Leather exports up 7.3% for Pakistan
Pakistan’s leather sector exports grew by 7.3% during the month of December 2010 to $87.8 million from $82 million in November 2010 on a month-on-month basis and by 33% if compared with December 2009 ($66 million) on a year-on-year basis, according to data released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics in the Pakistan government.
The breakdown showed that during December 2010, the country exported finished leather worth $38 million, leathergoods worth $41.4 million and footwear worth $8.3 million compared to $30.3 million, $44.2 million and $8.6 million respectively in the previous month. This shows that finished leather exports are up by 25.7%, and footwear by 12.9%, although leathergoods fell by 6.1% in November 2010.
On a more positive note, Pakistan’s total exports of the leather sector during the first six months of the current financial year (July-December 2010-11) surged by 23% to $529.6 million from $430.8 million in same period last year.
The breakdown showed that during the July-December 2010 period, the country exported 13.9 million square metres of finished leather at $202.5 million, compared to 9.9 million square metres at $ 137.7 million in July-December 2009, showing a growth of 40.6% and 47% in terms of quantity and value.
The country exported leather manufacturing worth $280.9 million, (which includes leather garments worth $219.2 million, leather gloves worth $55 million and other leathergoods worth $6.6 million) compared to $244 million in the corresponding period of the previous year. This shows a growth of 15.1%. The country also exported 5.2 million pairs of footwear worth $46.2 million (which include leather footwear exports worth $35.9 million) compared to a total of 5.7 million pairs worth $49 million in same period of the previous year, indicating a drop of 5.9%.
