The value of textile and garment exports from Pakistan increased by 25.43 percent year-on-year in dollar terms in the first nine months of fiscal 2021-22. During the period, Pakistan earned $14.242 bn from textile and apparel exports, compared to exports of $11.355 bn in July-March 2020-21, according to data from Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Category-wise, knitwear exports rose by a sharp 34.12 percent year-on-year to $3.729 bn during the nine-month period, while exports of non-knit readymade garments were up 26.24 percent to $2.863 bn.
Among textiles, cotton yarn exports increased by 25.97 percent to $908.487 mn in July-March 2021-22, as against exports of $721.216 mn made during the corresponding period of 2020-21. Exports of cotton fabric also rose by 26.51 percent and were valued at $1.795 bn during the period under review. Bedwear exports jumped by 19.33 percent to $2.448 bn during the nine-month period, the data showed.
On the other hand, synthetic fibre imports shot up 27.51 percent year-on-year to $562.281 mn, while imports of synthetic and artificial silk yarn rose 30.10 percent to $650.219 mn during July-March 2021-22.
Meanwhile, the value of textile machinery imports by Pakistan increased significantly by 64.68 percent year-on-year to $621.686 mn during the nine-month period.
The impressive growth in textile related exports and imports shows fast recovery after COVID-19 pandemic. Steep price rise in cotton and limited supplies also supported Pakistan’s exports.
In fiscal 2020-21 ending June 30, textile and garment exports from Pakistan increased by 22.94 percent to $15.400 bn over $12.526 bn exports in the previous fiscal. In fiscal 2018-19, the value was $13.327 bn.
