Merchandise exports rise 6.21pc in November

ISLAMABAD: The merchandise exports from the country rose to US $1.762 billion in November 2016 from $1.659 billion in November 2015 thus showing an increase of 6.21 per cent.

The imports, however also increased by 10.81 per cent to $4.255 billion in November 2016 from $3.840 billion in same period of previous year, a data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Tuesday said.

The trade deficit during the period under review expanded by 14.31 per cent from $2.181 billion to $2.493 billion in same month of current year.

On monthly basis, the exports also witnessed a nominal increase of 0.34 per cent while the imports increased by 6.03 per cent in November 2016 as compared to October 2016.

The trade deficit during the period July-November 2016-17 widened by 19.90 per cent as compared to the first five months of the year 2015-16 as the exports declined by 3.93 per cent and imports increased by 8.83 per cent during the period under review.

The exports during the period under review was recorded at $8.189 billion as compared to the exports of $8.524 billion in July- November 2015-16 while the imports increased from $18.345 billion in first five months of previous year to $19.964 billion in July- November 2015-16.

The trade deficit widened to $11.775 billion in July-November 2016-17 from $9.821 billion in same period of last year.