ISLAMABAD, March 18: The textile and clothing exports ballooned by over 28 per cent in the first eight months (July-Feb) of 2010-11 on the back of rising cotton prices on international markets, suggested data of Statistics Division issued on Friday. In absolute term, the export proceeds from the sector reached to $8.637 billion during the period under review from $6.708 billion in corresponding period last year.

As a result, the share of textile and clothing also edged up to over 56 per cent this year from 54 per cent last year.

This reflects not only one sector driven increase in overall export proceeds but also lack of interest of the government in diversification of export basket. As a result of this increase, the overall export proceeds reached to $15.334 billion this year from $12.334 billion last year.

Growth was recorded across the value chain of textile and clothing sector from raw materials to value-added sectors excluding the tents manufacturing sector.

Substantial growth in exports of garments and knitwear, two leading value-added sectors, had been occurred on the back of special support and subsidies dolled out to the sector for increasing market share in international trade. But the growth was mainly jacked up by rise in cotton prices in international market.

Aside from this the imports of textile machinery also recorded a growth of 89 per cent during the July-Feb period suggesting that textile manufacturers have started importing equipment for enhancing their capacity of production.

However, it was not vivid from the figures that what kinds of machinery were imported during the period under review.

Contrary to growth in textile and clothing, the exports of traditional products were up by 19 per cent to $6.697 billion during the July-Feb against $5.594 billion in the same period last year.The growth in non-textile products was driven by a substantial increase in export of food items, which recorded a growth of 18 per cent. It was mainly driven by increase in export of wheat.

The product-wise details showed that exports of readymade garments increased by 33.67 per cent and knitwear by 26.63 per cent during the July-Feb period. The export of bedwear also witnessed a growth of 16.68 per cent.

Export of raw cotton witnessed a growth of 12.97 per cent during the period under review despite the fact that this year the country was facing a shortfall of over two million bales due to floods in August last.

At the same time, export of cotton yarn was up by 45.30 per cent and cotton cloth also witnessed a growth of 33 per cent and towels 6.40 per cent. However, exports of tents declined by 38.26 per cent during the period under review.

The exports of sports goods up 7.96 per cent, leather value-added products 44.29 per cent, footwear 0.58 per cent, surgical goods and instruments 1.99 per cent during the July-Feb period over the last year. However, the exports of engineering goods declined by 6.22 per cent.