ISLAMABAD, Mar 16: The textile exports from the country witnessed an increase of 1.38 percent during the first eight months of the current fiscal year compared to the exports of the same period of last year.

The textile exports of the country during July-February (2018-19) were recorded at US $8901.892 million compared to the exports of US $8780.309 million, according to the latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The textile commodities that contributed in positive trade in external trade included knitwear, exports of which grew from US $1741.699 million last year to US $1939.553 million during the current fiscal year, showing growth of 11.39 percent.

The exports of bedwear also increased by 3.53 percent, from $1477.724 million to $1529.960 million whereas the exports of tents, canvas and tarpaulin increased by 5.2 percent, from $60.001 million to $63.122 million.

The exports of readymade garments grew by 2.72 percent, from $1695.814 million to $1741.870 million and the exports of madeup articles increased by 2.12 percent, from $451.646 million last year to $461.236 million, the data revealed.

Meanwhile, the textile commodities that witnessed negative growth in external trade included raw cotton, exports of which shrunk by 72.49 percent, from $55.549 million last year to $15.284 million.

The exports of cotton yearn also decreased from $859.716 million to $743.405 million, a decline of 13.53 percent whereas the exports of cotton cloth slid by 1.04 percent, from $1425.576 million to $1410.716 million.

Similarly, the exports of yearn (other than cotton yarn) decreased by 0.79 percent, from $20.10 million to $19.981 million while the exports of towels decreased from $523.266 million to $516.526 million, a decline of 1.29 percent.

The exports of art, silk, synthetic textile also slid by 0.35 percent, from $197.293 million to $196.6 million whereas the exports of all other textile materials decreased by 3.07 percent, from $271.880 million to $263.522 million.

Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the textile exports from the country witnessed growth of 2.9 percent in February 2019 compared to the exports of February 2018.

The textile exports during February 2019 were recorded at $1090.140 million compared to the exports of $1059.377 million, the data revealed.

On month-on-month basis, the textile exports from the country, however decreased by 6.63 percent in February 2019 when compared to the exports of $1167.581 million recorded during January 2019.

(APP)

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