In the first 10 months of the current fiscal Pakistan’s knitwear exports rose 8.7 per cent. Bedwear exports increased 2.4 per cent. Exports of readymade garments rose 3.2 per cent. The value-added sector showed some improvement during the period owing to measures like rupee devaluation, which boosted outbound shipments. The currency continued to lose its value against the dollar, encouraging exports on improved margins. Last year alone, the currency fell 20 per cent. The weak currency however increased the cost of doing business and particularly catalysed energy costs.

In April, textile exports were up around five per cent over the previous month. But, the monthly textile exports remained In July to April, exports of knitwear, bedwear and readymade garments, in terms of quantity, also increased 15.8 per cent, 10.11 per cent and 29 per cent year on year. Exports of cotton cloth however, fell 2.7 per cent. Cotton yarn exports declined 15.7 per cent. Raw cotton exports slid 67.2 per cent. Food exports declined 4.1 percent year-on-year to $3.8 billion during the period under review. Rice exports increased 1.42 per cent year on year. Exports of manufactured goods remained flat. Exports of petroleum and coal soared 24.4 per cent.