Pakistan: leather exports show mixed results
Pakistan’s leather sector exports fell by 6.1% to $81.3 million during the month of February 2012, from $86.6 million in January 2012 and 3.2% if compared with February 2011 ($84 million), according to data released by Pakistan’s Federal Bureau of Statistics.
The breakdown shows that during February 2012 alone, the country exported finished leather worth $31.5 million, leathergoods worth $37.1 million and footwear worth $12.8 million compared to $36 million, $41.5 million and $9.2 million respectively in the previous month. This shows finished leather exports fell by 12.5% and leathergoods by 10.6% but exports of footwear are up by 39.1% over January 2012.
On a positive note, Pakistan’s total exports of the leather sector during first eight months of current financial year (July-February 2011-12) were up by 0.4% to $718.1 million from $715.5 million in same period last year.
The breakdown shows that during July-February 2011-12 period, the country exported 15.4 million square metres of finished leather at $277.9 million compared to 17.4 square million at $276.6 million in July-February 2010 – showing a drop of 11.2% in terms of quantity but up by 0.5% in terms of value. The country exported leathergoods worth $370.5 million, (which includes leather garments of $247.2 million, leather gloves $112.8 million and other leathergoods worth $10.5 million) compared to $370.6 million in the corresponding period last year – showing a marginal decline of 0.01%. The country also exported 8 million pairs of footwear worth $69.7 million (which include leather footwear exports worth $59.1 million, canvas footwear $186,000 and other footwear at $10.3 million) compared to 7.6 million pairs at $68.3 million in same period a year ago, showing a growth of 2%.
