Non-textile export rises

Islamabad: Export of non-textile products witnessed a marginal growth of 1.29 per cent in first seven months of the current fiscal year from a year ago.

The export of non-textile products reached $6.664 billion in July-Jan 2014 compared with $6.579bn in the corresponding period of last year.

The increase was mainly driven by a surge in export of petroleum products, carpets, sports goods, leather products and molasses.

There was a massive year-on-year growth in export of petroleum products to $490.810m from $1.283m. Petroleum products and naphtha led the growth in the petroleum sector’s export.

The export of carpets, rugs etc witnessed a growth of 9.83pc during the first seven months of the current fiscal year from a year ago.

Export of sports goods grew by 1.48pc year on year.

Foreign sales of football are increased by 20.46pc, an encouraging sign because it was on the decline for the last few years.

Export of tanned leather witnessed a growth of 14.29pc.

Leather products export also increased by 11.61pc, while export of leather garments rose by 10.76pc during the first seven months from a year ago. Export of footwear swelled by 3.53pc, mainly driven by 8.05pc growth in export of leather footwear.

Export of surgical goods and medical instruments went up by7.67pc and engineering goods by 26.76pc. Export of molasses witnessed more than 100pc growth.

Exports of meat, oil, spices, tobacco, pulses, vegetables, fruits and fish increased while in agriculture sector, rice exports grew by 21.46pc in July-Jan period this year from a year ago.

Year-on-year export of basmati rice was up by 5.18pc during the period under review.

Non-basmati rice exports grew by over 29.65pc during the period under review over last year.