Pakistan textile exports surge 30.43pc in nine months

ISLAMABAD, April 19 (Business Recorder): Despite challenges of energy shortage, the textile exports surged by 30.43 per cent during the first nine months of the current fiscal year as against the same period of last year. Textile exports during July-March (2010-11) were recorded at US$9.880 billion as against the exports of $7.575 billion during last year, according to Federal Bureau of Statistic (FBS) data. All the textile groups witnessed increase in exports except tents, canvas and tarpaulin, exports of which fell by 38.91 during the period under review. The groups that contributed in enhancing over all textile exports included raw cotton, cotton yarn and cotton cloth, exports of which increased by 22.41 per cent, 37.21 per cent and 28.60 per cent respectively. Exports of raw cotton were recorded at $236.167 million against the exports of $192.931 million lat year whereas the exports of cotton yarn stood at $1.509 billion against exports of $1.100 and exports of cotton cloth were recorded at $1.709 billion against the exports of $1.329 billion. Exports of cotton carded or combed increased from $15.912 million last year to $20.345 million, showing an increase of 27.86 per cent where as exports of yarn other than cotton yarn increased from $32.822 million to $34.613 million, showing an increase of 5.46 per cent. The exports of knitwear, bedwear and towels increased by 32.71 per cent, 22.28 per cent and 17.25 per cent respectively, the FBS figures revealed. Knitwear exports were recorded at $1.726 billion this year against the exports of $1.300 million last year while the exports of bedwear increased from $1.273 billion last year to $ 1.556 billion this year and exports of towels increase from $495.048 million to $580.448 million. Exports of readymade garments during July-March (2010-11) stood at $1.276 billion against the exports of $926. 815 million last year showing an increase of 37.75 per cent.