July-May textile exports reach $9.816 billion

Export of textile products reached 9.816 billion dollars mark in the first 11 months (July-May) of the current fiscal, up 6.04 percent from 9.257 billion dollars over the same period last year while the country's food import bill touched 2.537 billion dollars during the period.
Official figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) on Friday showed that export of almost all the products, excluding raw cotton, cotton cloth and bedwear recorded growth during the period under review over the last year. On monthly basis the export of textile products witnessed growth of 4.84 percent to 950.821 million dollars during the month of May as against 906.944 million dollars during the same month last year.
Detailed analysis of the commodities showed that export of readymade garments witnessed a growth of 5.35 percent to 1.254 billion dollars during the July-May period against 1.190 billion dollars over the same period last year. A growth of 6.16 percent in export of readymade garments was recorded in the month of May over the same month last year.
Statistics showed that the export of knitwear also recorded a growth of 12.94 percent during July-May to 1.773 billion dollars as against 1.570 billion dollars last year. A growth of 4.12 percent in export knitwear was recorded in the month of May over the same month last year.
Export of raw cotton, cotton cloth and bed wear recorded a negative growth by 21.73 percent, 410 percent and 3.10 percent, respectively, during July-May over the period last year.
Export of cotton yarn was up by 4.21 percent, cotton carded or combed 3.92 percent, yarn other than cotton yarn 82.59 percent, towels 2.43 percent, tents, canvas and tarpaulin 99.06 percent, art, silk and synthetic textile 122.12 percent, made-up articles 13.45 percent and other textile materials 17.42 percent during the period under review over last year. Meanwhile, food import bill jumped 2.537 billion dollars during the 11 month of current fiscal, up by 1.75 percent from 2.494 billion dollars over the same period last year.
Among food items, import of milk cream and milk food for infant witnessed an increase of 31.01 percent, dry fruit and nuts 19.15 percent, spices 3.20 percent, soyabean oil 75.56 percent, palm oil 26.13 percent, pulses 54.83 percent, and all other items 7.33 percent during the period under review.