ISLAMABAD: The exports of various sports goods witnessed increase of 7.96 percent during the first eight months of current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

The exports of sports goods were recorded at US$193.426 million during July-February (2010-11) as against the exports of US$179.168 million during last year, according to Federal Bureau of Statistic (FBS) data.

Among the sports goods, exports of foot ball increased by 5.93 percent as the football exports were recorded at US$88.527 million this year against the exports of US$83.572 million last year.

Exports of gloves during the period under review stood at US$73.840 million against the exports of US$65.192 last year, showing an increase of 13.27 percent, the data revealed.

The exports of other sports goods increased by 2.15 percent by growing up from US$30.404 million last year to US$31.059 million this year.

Meanwhile exports of leather (tanned) increased by 44.29 percent where as exports of leather garments went up by 18.53 percent and leather gloves by 18.62 percent.

Exports of leather (tanned) stood at US$273.072 million in July-February (2010-11) against the exports of 189.248 million last year.

Similarly, the exports of leather garments and leather gloves were recorded at US$285.258 million and 74.810 million against the exports of US$240.661 million and 63.066 million respectively.

Among the footwear products, exports of leather footwear increased by 5.96 percent whereas canvas footwear and other footwear varieties witnessed negative growth of 30.46 percent and 12.89 percent respectively.