ISLAMABAD-The exports of textile commodities witnessed an increase of 8.23 per cent during the first seven months of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of last year. The textile exports were recorded at $8765.739 million in July-January (2020-21) against the exports of $8099.095 million in July-January (2019-20), showing growth of 8.23 per cent, according to latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The textile commodities that contributed in positive trade growth included knitwear, exports of which increased from $1831.758 million last year to $2175.021 million during the current year, showing growth of 18.74 per cent.

Likewise, the exports of yarn (other than cotton yarn) increased by 4.63 per cent, from $16.286 million to $17.040 million whereas, exports of bed wear increased by 16.38 per cent from $1392.020 to $1613.509 while the exports of towels increased by 19.91 per cent, from $444.685 million to $533.207 million.

The exports of tents, canvas and tarplin grew by 48.95 per cent, from $49.611 million to $73.897 million; ready made garments by 5.48 per cent, from $1680.897 million to $1773.054 million; art, silk and synthetic textile by 0.45 per cent, from $199.790 million to $200.687 million while exports of made up article (excluding towels and bed wear) increased by 18.01 per cent, from $378.680 million to $446.878 million.

Meanwhile, the commodities that witnessed negative growth in traded included raw cotton, exports of which declined by 96.27 per cent, from $15.885 million to $0.593 million; cotton yarn decreased by 23.97 per cent, from $639.770 to $486.426 whereas the exports of cotton cloth also decreased by 8.63 per cent, from $1188.990 million to $1086.333.

On year-on-year basis, the textile exports increased by 10.79 per cent during the month of January 2021 as compared to the same month of last year.

The exports during January 2021 were recorded at $1323.324 million against the exports of $1194.463 million.

On month-on-month basis, the exports from the country witnessed decrease of 5.54 per cent during January 2020 when compared to the exports of $1400.269 million in December 2020.

It is pertinent to mention here that the country’s merchandize exports increased by 5.53 per cent during the first seven months of the current fiscal year (2020-21) as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

The exports of the country during July-January (2020-21) were recorded at $14.242 billion against the exports of $13.496 billion during July-January (2019-20), according to the latest PBS data.

The imports during the period under review also increased by 6.92 per cent by growing from $27.316 billion last year to $29.205 billion during the first seven months of current fiscal year.

Based on the figures, the country’s trade deficit increased by 8.27 per cent during the first seven months as compared to the corresponding period of last year. The trade deficit during the first seven months of the current fiscal year was recorded at $14.963 billion against the deficit of $13.820 billion last year.