20000210

Exports down 23pc in January

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's exports plummeted 23.2 percent from $ 797 million in December 99 to $ 612 million in January 2000, mirroring the yawning trend in trade deficit during the first seven months of current fiscal.

While imports recorded an upward trend from $ 837 million in December last to $ 850 million during January 2000, reflecting 2.6 percent increase, official statistics indicated here Wednesday.

Total exports depicted an improvement during July-January 1999-2000 at $ 4741 million against exports worth $ 4366 million in the like period of previous fiscal year, projecting an increase by 8.6 percent.

Imports amounted to $ 5754 million during first seven months of current fiscal as compared to imports of $ 5077 million in the corresponding period of last fiscal year, indicating a rise of 13.3 percent.

During July-January 1999-2000, trade gap amounted to $ 1.013 billion against trade deficit of $ 711 million in the similar span of 1998-99.

Trade imbalance during January 2000 amounted to $ 247 million against imbalance of $ 147 million in January 1999, statistics said adding, trade deficit in December 1999 was to the tune of $ 40 million while it ascended to $ 247 million in January 2000. APP