Machinery group on top in imports bill: textiles claim $5.59 billion exports
AFTAB MAKEN
ISLAMABAD (February 26 2006): Machinery group led the imports, followed by petroleum products, agriculture and chemicals groups, in the statement showing imports of 34 selected commodities during the period July-January 2005-06.

The data released by Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) on Saturday showed that metals, food, miscellaneous and textile groups remained at 5th, 6th, 7th and bottom of the table, respectively.

Of total imports of $15.80 billion during seventh month of current fiscal year, machinery group share was $4.00 billion, up 44 percent against imports of same period of last fiscal year.

Petroleum group, second in the list, imported $3.52 billion worth of petroleum products showing 65 percent increase over last year. Similarly, imports of agri and other chemicals were $2.52 billion showing an increase of 65 percent over last year's imports.

Metal group with imports of $1.06 billion stood fifth with an increase of 73 percent. Food group with imports of $974 million stood sixth on the list with an increase of 42 percent, while wheat imports showed an increase of 225 percent sugar 9716 percent increase.

Miscellaneous group with imports of $331 million was the seventh showing an increase of 28 percent, while textile sector was at the bottom of the list with the import bill of $323 million and an increase of 69 percent.

Food group included milk, cream and milk food for infants, wheat, dry fruits, tea, spices, soyabean oil, palm oil, sugar and pulses.

Machinery group imports constituted power generating equipment, office machines, textile, construction, mining, electrical machinery and apparatus, road motor vehicles, aircraft, ships and boats and agricultural machinery and implements.

EXPORTS Textile manufacturers with exports of $5.59 billion were at the top of exports list of 34 selected products in the first seven months of current fiscal year, while 'other manufacturers' with exports of $1.78 billion were second and 'primary commodities' third with exports of $884 million.

Exports of textile made-ups showed an increase of 23 percent when compared with the corresponding period of last year. Primary commodities showed an increase of 29 percent, while 'other manufacturers' showed an increase of 15 percent.

'Primary commodities' include rice, raw cotton, fish, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, spices and oilseeds, nuts and kernels. Textile manufacturers include cotton yarn, cotton cloth, knitwear, bed wear, towels, tents, ready made garments and made-up articles.

Carpets, rugs, mats, petroleum products, sports goods, leather tanned, leather manufactures, footwear, surgical goods and medical instruments, cutlery, chemical and pharma products, engineering goods, gems, jewellery, furniture and molasses were included in exports of 'other manufacturers'.

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