Non-textile exports fall to $11.2bn in 2022-23

Pakistan’s non-textile exports fell by 9.87 per cent to $11.23 billion in outgoing FY23 compared to $12.46bn in the preceding year, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The PBS reported that export proceeds from the non-textile sector showed a stagnant trend since the beginning of FY23 due to demand contraction in the buyers’ market. Exports showed no growth since September 2022 on a year-on-year basis. In the value-added leather sector, exports of leather garments fell year-on-year by 7.03pc in FY23. The exports of raw leather also decreased by 19.45pc. The Pakistan Tanners Association has around 800 members but only 50 units will meet the new protocols of the European Union that include environment, social, work ethics and other compliances by the deadline of December 2023. As a result of this high compliance, most of the tanneries are closing down in Pakistan. There are few tanneries in Kasur, Gujranwala and some very small localised tanners in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that buy low-quality skins and hides and sell their leather to local industries which produce footwear or trade them in Afghanistan.