The Pak Banker

Import of textile group surges 25% during July-March 2021-22

- KARACHI

Despite decrease in import of cotton and other raw materials, Pakistan has to pay 25 % more on imports of textile group commoditie­s due to higher internatio­nal prices in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021-22.

According to statistics issued by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, total value of imports of textile group in first nine months of fiscal year 2021-22 was recorded $ 3,499.68 million which is 25.59 percent higher than correspond­ing period of fiscal year 2020-21. Import volume of textile group remained $ 2,786.5 million in July-Mach 2020-21.

The PBS data shows that import of raw cotton, synthetic fiber and synthetic and artificial silk yarn decreased in terms of quantity during the period under review while value of the import recorded increase due to higher prices of the commoditie­s in internatio­nal market.

During three quarters of the current fiscal year 533,871 metric tons of raw cotton worth $1,205.47 million was imported while in the correspond­ing period of the previous year 624,945 metric tons of raw cotton worth $1,032.08 million was imported that shows 14.57 decrease in terms of quantity while 16.8 percent increase in terms of value.

The same trend was seen in import of synthetic fiber as its quantity slide down 15.85 percent to 291,364 MT from 346,248 MT while import value rose 27.51 percent from $ 440.986 million to $ 562.281 million.

Import of synthetic and artificial silk yarn has recorded 30 percent increase in value while 7.64 percent decline in quantity as 293,191 MT of synthetic and artificial silk yarn worth $ 650.219 million were imported during first 9 months of 2021-22 while 317,440 MT of the same commodity worth $ 499.788 million were purchased from abroad during July-March 2020-21.

Meanwhile, import of worn clothing recorded 56.87 and 66.47 percent increase in terms of both quantity and value respective­ly. As per PBS data 764,139 MT of worn clothing worth $341.319 million were imported during the period as compared to 487,107 MT of worn clothing having a value of $205 million.

Import of other textile items also increased 21.64 percent during July March 2021-22 and surged to $740.383 million from $608.677 million in first nine months of 2020-21.

Sweden's central bank on Thursday raised its key interest rate from zero to 0.25 percent to counter soaring inflation linked to the Ukraine war and the Covid pandemic.

It was the first time the rate was in positive territory since September 2014 and came ahead of schedule, with the Riksbank's most recent assessment from February forecastin­g a rise in the second half of 2024.

"The forecast is that the repo rate will be raised a further two to three times this year and will be somewhat below 2 percent at the end of the three-year forecast period", the central bank said in a statement.

The global economy was still being affected by "major disruption­s" caused by the Covid pandemic, and more recently Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the bank said.

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