Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports in July to April showed a nominal decline in export proceeds by 0.92 per cent year-on-year.

Exports of readymade garments rose 5.34 per cent while those of knitwear dropped 0.17 per cent. Exports of bed-wear edged up 5.01 per cent while those of towels dropped by 4.38 per cent.

In April, the value of exported textile and clothing products declined 0.41 per cent year-on-year. Overall export proceeds in July to April were down 2.29 per cent.

In primary commodities, exports of cotton yarn witnessed a year-on-year decline of 3.68 per cent while those of cotton cloth and yarn dropped 5.73 per cent and 29.48 per cent.

Exports of made-up articles, excluding towels, increased 1.18 per cent and those of tents, canvas and tarpaulin grew 56.22 per cent. Proceeds from art, silk and synthetic textile exports declined 29.70 per cent while exports of raw cotton also recorded a year-on-year decline of 47.58 per cent.

One of the reasons for the decline in Pakistan’s textile exports is that the preferential access to the European Union under the GSP Plus scheme hasn’t boosted proceeds due to a slump in demand.

Pakistan gives a four per cent rebate on the exports of readymade garments on a ten per cent incremental increase over the preceding year.