Pakistan’s textile exports saw a sharp decline of $272.6 million in February compared to January, as exporters struggle with high production costs due to expensive electricity.
According to data released by the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), the country’s textile exports stood at $1.41 billion in February, down from $1.68 billion in January.
Category-wise, the biggest decline was recorded in knitwear exports, which fell by $102.7 million. Ready-made garment exports also dropped by $67.8 million, while bedwear exports saw a decline of $39 million. Additionally, cotton cloth exports decreased by $16.3 million, and towel exports were down by $4.6 million.
Exporters warn that the rising cost of electricity is making it difficult to secure international orders, impacting the country’s overall trade performance. They emphasized that if cheap electricity and raw materials were made available, Pakistan’s textile exports could exceed $30 billion annually.
