Knitwear, garments push textile exports to over $1.37 billion

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s textile sector has shown a promising growth trend, with total exports for February rising by 5.05 per cent to $1.37 billion compared to $1.30 billion in the same month last year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

However, on a month-on-month basis, the exports saw a notable decrease of 13.02 per cent from January’s figure of $1.57 billion.

Over the first eight months of FY25 (July 2024 to February 2025), textile exports rose by 6.4 per cent, reaching $11.59 billion compared to $10.89 billion in the same period last year, highlighting the sector’s long-term growth.

The country’s total exports under the balance of payments (BOP) for February clocked in at $2.59 billion, representing a 2.44 per cent rise compared to $2.53 billion in February 2024. However, compared to January 2025, the exports fell by 13.33 per cent, continuing the downward trend on a monthly basis.

Textile products remained the backbone of Pakistan’s exports in February, accounting for 52.83 per cent of the total export revenue. Among the top-performing items were Knitwear, Readymade Garments, and Bed Wear.

Knitwear exports stood at $351 million, reflecting a robust 11.8 per cent year-on-year increase. Similarly, Readymade Garments fetched $323 million, up 9.2 per cent, and Bed Wear exports rose by 8.19 per cent, totalling $239.42 million.

In contrast to textiles, the food sector struggled, posting a steep decline. The total export value of food products stood at $429.14 million in February, down 32.7 per cent from $637.96 million in the same month last year. The monthly comparison was also bleak, with a 23.6 per cent drop from $562.14 million in January.

Rice exports, the largest contributor in the food group, brought in $219.15 million, marking a decline of 17.3 per cent month-on-month and a sharp 41.1 per cent drop year-on-year.

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