ISLAMABAD: In the first nine months of the current fiscal year (9MFY22), Pakistan’s non-textile exports increased by 24.28 percent year on year to $9.11 billion, mainly to a partial revival of foreign orders and government assistance schemes.
Despite lockdowns in several countries, three industries — leather clothing, surgical instruments, and engineering items — maintained growth in export revenues in FY21.
Exports of leather garments increased by 7.95pc and leather gloves increased by 8.74 pc in the value-added leather industry. In contrast, raw leather exports climbed by almost 36.35 pc from a year ago in the first nine months (July-March).
Pakistan is a major supplier of surgical instruments across the world. Surgical equipment exports decreased by 5.13 percent in 9MFY22 compared to the same period in FY21.
Exports of footwear climbed 17.92 percent year over year, with leather and canvas footwear leading the way. Engineering exports increased by 2.80% year over year in FY22. Electric fan exports, on the other hand, fell 2.12 percent in the year under review.
Carpet exports increased by 12.28 percent, while sports goods exports increased by 35.23 pc in the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year. Football sales increased 40.33 pc from a year earlier in the sports industry from July to March this year.
The government has suggested numerous measures in the budget for 2021-22, including a reduction in raw material tariffs to encourage the export of pharmaceutical, plastic, chemical, engineering, and value-added textile products.
According to PBS data, the food basket grew 18.92 percent year over year in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.
Rice exports increased 14.96 percent year over year to $1.79 billion in this category. In terms of volume, rice exports reached 3.54 million tonnes this year, up from 2.88 million tonnes the previous year.
Basmati exports climbed by 21.63 percent in value and 26.14 percent in quantity, while non-basmati exports increased by 12.60 percent in value and 22.19 pc in quantity.
Spice exports increased by 8.05 percent, followed by oilseeds, nuts (up 131.4 percent), meat, and goods (up 1.18 percent). During the year under review, exports of fish products increased by 2.04 pc. In contrast, vegetable exports increased by 1.09 percent, fruits by 4.22 pc, and tobacco by 59.35 percent.
