ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported an 11.44 percent drop in textile exports in the first month of the current financial year (2023-24).
According to the PBS, textile exports were recorded at $1.31 billion compared to $1.48 billion during the corresponding period of the previous year.
Notable contributors to trade growth within the textile sector were cotton yarn, which saw exports rise by 35.96 percent to $97.03 million in July 2023 compared to $71.37 million in the same period last year.
Tents, canvas, and tarpaulin also experienced positive growth with exports increasing by 9.02 percent to $9.52 million from $8.74 million, while the export of cotton carded witnessed a 100 percent surge, reaching $0.21 million.
On the other hand, several textile commodities faced negative trade growth. Exports of cotton cloth decreased by 22.56 percent, sliding from $181.99 million to $140.94 million.
Similarly, exports of knitwear declined by 16.13 percent, going from $434.64 million to $364.54 million, and bed wear by 14.60 percent, falling from $253.99 million to $216.91 million. Exports of towels decreased by 2.93 percent, from $74.97 million to $72.77 million, and ready-made garments by 9.80 percent, dropping from $304.57 million to $274.73 million.
Exports of art, silk, and synthetic textiles decreased by 16.18 percent, moving from $31.22 million to $26.17 million, and made-up articles (excluding towels and bed wear) decreased by 7.54 percent, declining from $55.20 million to $51.04 million.
Exports of all other textile materials collectively decreased by 10.13 percent, going from $60.04 million to $53.96 million.
In comparison to June 2023, textile exports saw a month-on-month decline of 10.89 percent in July 2023, according to PBS data. Exports for July 2023 stood at $1.31 billion, whereas they were recorded at $1.47 billion in June 2023.
