The country''s exports during January 2019 witnessed a decline of 1.78 percent, ie, from $ 2.08 billion in December 2018 to $ 2.04 billion in January 2019, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said. According to the provisional figures compiled by the PBS in terms of US dollars, the country''s exports in January 2019 were recorded at $ 2.04 billion as compared to $ 2.08 billion in December 2018, which shows a decrease of 1.78 percent. But on year-on-year basis, the exports witnessed an increase of 3.97 percent as compared to $1.965 billion in January 2018.
In rupee terms, exports during January 2019 amounted to Rs 283.37 billion against Rs 287.8 billion in December 2018 and Rs 216.95 billion during January 2018, showing a decrease of 1.54 percent over December 2018 but an increase of 30.62 percent over January 2018. Exports during July-January 2018-2019 totalled at Rs 1,730.5 billion against Rs 1,379.907 billion during the corresponding period of last year showing an increase of 25.41 percent.
In terms of US dollars, the exports during July-January 2018-19 totalled $ 13.2 billion against $ 12.9 billion during the corresponding period of last year showing an increase of 2.24 percent. Main commodities of exports during January 2019 were readymade garments worth Rs 35.55 billion, knitwear, Rs 34.5 billion, bed wear, Rs 26.8 billion, cotton cloth, Rs 25.2 billion, rice others Rs 24.8 billion, cotton yarn, Rs 12.013 billion, fruits. Rs 9.99 billion, towels, Rs 9.5 billion, made-up articles (excluding towels & bed wear) Rs 8.7 billion and rice Basmati, Rs 7.99 billion.
During the period imports into the Pakistan in terms of US dollars remained $ 4.504 billion as compared to $ 4.44 billion in December 2018 showing, an increase of 1.35% but a reduction of 19.14 percent as compared to $ 5.57 billion in January 2018. Imports during July-January 2018- 19 totalled at Rs 4,234.8 billion against Rs 3,654.3 billion during the corresponding period of last year showing an increase of 15.89 percent.
In terms of US dollars, the imports during July-January 2018-19 totalled at $ 32.5 billion against $34.3 billion during the corresponding period of last year showing a decrease of 5.17 percent. Main commodities of imports during January 2019 were petroleum products, Rs 60.7 billion, petroleum crude, Rs 39.1 billion, liquefied natural gas, Rs 36.7 billion, iron & steel, Rs 27.22 billion, plastic materials, Rs 23.55 billion, palm oil, Rs 23.5 billion, electrical machinery & apparatus, Rs 22.5 billion, iron & steel scrap, Rs 18.1 billion, aircraft, ships & boats, Rs 17.72 billion, and medicinal products, Rs 11.4 billion.