Pakistan Export Updates

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The export earnings surged to an eight-year high at $31.6 billion on the back of record high export of technology and all-time high export of textile goods.

However, the surge in export earnings remains significantly low compared to the one recorded in imports, registering a huge trade deficit of $30 billion in fiscal year 2021 which weakened the country’s balance of payment.

Total exports increased by 12.8% $31.6 billion during FY21 compared to $27.9 billion in FY20.

Technology exports jumped 47% to $2.1 billion in FY21 compared to $1.4 billion in FY20, contributing 36% to the overall services export in the year under review, according to AHL.

Commenting on a significant surge in technology exports, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque said in a press statement that there was no doubt that the IT sector had a key role in strengthening the national economy and creating more job opportunities in the country. “The target of $5 billion IT sector exports would be achieved by 2023,” he said according to APP.

 

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Pakistan to start exporting ventilators this year.

 

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China is Pakistan's third top export destination, where Pakistan exported products worth $2,043.206 million during the fiscal year under review against the exports of $1,663.962 million during FY20, showing a growth of 22.79 per cent.

Source: State Bank of Pakistan

 

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[ghazi52]

During FY20-21, Pakistan's exports to #HongKong witnessed an unprecedented increase of 26.5% on a year-on-year basis. Initiatives and Policies of MOC and Govt of Pakistan are paying dividends.

 

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Pakistan to export mobile phones by Jan 2022, with Chinese assistance

July 29, 2021





While talking to a parliamentary panel, the advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak said that Pakistan will begin exports of mobile phone by January 2022. He also said that two Chinese companies will be leading the imports as they have already set up their factories. One of the companies is Samsung to which the government as already allowed a number of incentives.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will start export of mobile phones by January 2022, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood informed a parliamentary panel on Tuesday.

The senate standing committee on commerce, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, also grilled the commerce ministry for poor performance, sharing obsolete information about Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) and absence of the commerce secretary from the meeting.

Dawood informed the committee that Pakistan will start export of mobile phones by January 2022 and two Chinese companies will take the lead. One Chinese company has set up industry in Karachi.

He said that Samsung was asked twice to set up a factory in Pakistan and was also offered incentives but it refused. Now, when two Chinese companies have set up their factories, Samsung approached the government for incentives, said Dawood, adding that now the company will have to set up factory on already available incentives.

During the meeting, Dawood also clarified that a couple of months ago rice exporters had informed him that China had halted Pakistani rice after detecting coronavirus (dead virus) on the surface of plastic packing bags. This issue has been resolved and 80% consignments are cleared.

The virus was also detected on Pakistani seafood consignments reaching China but the virus inside the packing material of consignments was alive. Last month nine companies were banned and this month restrictions have been imposed on six Pakistani companies. The commerce ministry has asked companies to get sanitary and phytosanitary inspection of their consignments.

Executive Director General Syed Rafeo Bashir Shah informed the committee that Chinese companies have tasked Maritime Fisheries Department to inspect seafood consignments destined for China which has not performed well. Now the commerce ministry has adopted a harsher tone with the Maritime Fisheries Department.

In a separate statement issued by the commerce ministry, it clarified that Pakistani export consignments of rice were detained for port inspection and detections but were later on released after conformity with the Chinese government protocols. China has not banned any rice exports from Pakistan, it added.

Senator Danish Kumar informed the committee that Chinese, Korean and Japanese trawlers are fishing in Pakistan waters illegally due to which local fishermen are facing hunger like situation. He said, “Pakistan’s seafood exports can earn $2 billion per annum if incentives are given to local industry.” He suggested that local fishermen be given modern technology for fishing also proposed restrictions on fishing by foreign fishermen.

Expressing dismay at the absence of the commerce secretary, some Senators maintained that they travelled from Karachi and Quetta for the meeting, but the secretary did not bother to attend it. They further stated that the briefing given on the commerce ministry’s performance and future strategy is like a film which they have watched for years.

Senator Kumar and Senator Ahmed Khan walked out of the meeting in protest against absence of Commerce Secretary Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui, who, according to the commerce additional secretary, was in Karachi to discuss important issues related to Expo 2021.

Senator Fida Muhammad requested the committee chairman to write a letter to the Senate chairman on the attitude of commerce secretary.

Director General (Trade Policy) Waqas Azeem briefed the committee on STFP 2020-25, saying that the targets of two previous trade policies were not based on ground realities as export targets were too high which could not be achieved. He said that the main focus of both policies was on three markets including China and European Union (EU).

He maintained that exports have posted growth because orders of other countries were diverted to Pakistan due to Covid-19 situation.

However, when committee members sought details of orders which were diverted to Pakistan, the DG declined to share the information on the plea that exporters do not share buyers’ information with the ministry because they fear that the information may be leaked to their competitors.

Additional Secretary (Trade Policy) Ahmed Mujtaba Memon claimed that the incumbent government reduced energy rates for five export-oriented sectors for the first time in the country’s history even though the first time energy rates were reduced was during PML (N) government.

The committee members enquired if reduced rates of energy for the export-oriented industry, is subsidy, to which Dawood replied that it is actually cross subsidy. He added that globally energy tariffs are lower for export industry but in Pakistan it is not so.

 

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Pakistan’s regional exports rise 9pc in FY21

Mubarak Zeb Khan
July 30, 2021


Pakistan carried out its border trade with the farther neighbour Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives via sea only. — Reuters/File

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to nine regional countries posted growth of 9.14 per cent while imports grew by nearly 36pc in FY21 from a year ago, latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan showed.

The country’s exports to Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives account for a small amount of $3.925 billion — just 14.21pc of Pakistan’s total global exports of $25.304bn in FY21.

China tops the list of countries in terms of Pakistan’s exports to its neighbours, leaving other populous countries India and Bangladesh behind. Pakistan carried out its border trade with the farther neighbour Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives via sea only.

On the other hand, imports from these countries edged up to $13.827bn in FY21 against $10.183bn over the corresponding period last year, an increase of 35.78pc. As a result of huge imports, Pakistan’s trade deficit with the region expanded during the period under review.

Pakistan’s exports to China posted positive growth in 2020-21. Bulk of the regional exports share, which accounts for 52.05pc, is with China while the remaining is for eight countries. Pakistan’s exports to China posted a growth of 22.85pc to $2.043bn in FY21 from $1.663bn in FY20. The increase in export proceeds was noted in the post-Covid period especially the exports of rice.

Contrary to this, imports from China grew 39pc to $13.302bn during the period under review against $9.568bn over the last year. The bulk of 96.2pc imports is coming from China alone while remaining imports are from other eight countries. Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan posted a growth of 10.47pc to $983.295m in FY21 from $890.052m in the same period in FY20. Till a few years ago, Afghanistan was the second major export destination for Pakistan after the United States.

Imports from Afghanistan posted a growth of 47pc to $179.228m against $121.832m over the last year mainly driven by higher arrivals of essential kitchen items including tomatoes, potatoes and onions as well as fresh and dried fruits.

The country’s exports to India plunged 89pc to $3.139m this year from $28.644m in FY20. The imports from India dipped 50.8pc to $183.785m against $373.561m over the last year. The government has suspended trade relations with New Delhi. Since the arrival of Covid-19 pandemic, the government has only allowed import of pharmaceutical products from India.

Pakistan’s exports to Iran jumped 181.8pc to $0.155m in FY21 from $0.055m in FY20. Most of the trade with Tehran is carried out through informal channels in border areas of Balochistan. No imports were made from Tehran during the period under review.

Exports to Bangladesh decreased 11.49pc to $615.212m in FY21 from $695.102m. Imports from Dhaka posted a growth of 56.22pc to $76.134m this year against $48.733m over the last year.

Similarly, exports to Sri Lanka dipped by 6.50pc to $270.320m in FY21 from $289.120m in the previous year. On the other hand, Pakistan’s exports to Nepal plunged by 79pc to $4.551m in FY21 from $21.720m the previous year. However, imports posted a growth of 211pc to $1.244m this year against $0.400m over the last year.

Exports to Maldives dipped by 28.6pc to $6.052m from $8.478m. Import posted a growth of 384pc to $0.092m this year against $0.019m over the last year.

Export proceeds to Bhutan were recorded at $0.155m in FY21 against $0.094m over the last year. The imports from Bhutan were noted at $0.075m in FY21 against $0.097m over the previous year.


Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2021

 

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will be exporting mobile phones by 2022, Prime Minister Imran Khan's Adviser for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood shared his prediction while addressing a press conference on Monday.

According to Dawood, Pakistan has already started manufacturing mobile phones, with some foreign companies aspiring to get their mobile phones manufactured in Pakistan.

The PM's aide stressed developing an export culture in the country.

"In the next five years, Pakistan should stop depending entirely on textile exports and focus on other industries too," said Dawood.

He further stated that the government of Pakistan has developed a strategy for increasing exports.

Briefing the media on the export statistics, he said that Pakistan made exports worth $2.3 billion in July, which is the highest amount of exports ever made in the month of July.

As per Dawood, the exports observed the biggest growth in the field of Information Technology, with the annual IT exports exceeding from $2b, constituting up to 47% growth rate.

He claimed that the export will be amplified up to 38% from the current rate, which is 31.2%.

We look forward to taking the goods exports up to worth $30.2b and services exports up to $7.5b in the current fiscal year, he added.

Special Assistant to PM Khan Shahbaz Gill was also present with Dawood on the occasion.

He said in his address that the federal government’s policy is ‘made in Pakistan’.

“The government has worked for the promotion of exports since Pakistan’s future lies in it,” said Gill.

He said that the PM Khan was informed about the problems exporters face, during a recent meeting with the exporters. PM Khan will be meeting the exporters on a monthly basis, he added.

 

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Pakistan’s exports of 9 sectors together with value-added textiles posted double-digit progress within the first month of 2021-22 in comparison with the identical month of 12 months in the past.

Exports of males’ clothes merchandise had been up by 23computer to $406 million in July towards $329m during the last 12 months, adopted by a 9pc improve in residence textiles to $380m towards $349m final 12 months.

A rise of 46computer in jerseys and pullovers to $81m was famous towards $56m over the corresponding months of final 12 months.

Equally, exports of fruit and veggies posed a progress of 20computer to $61m in July towards $51m over the corresponding months of final 12 months, adopted by a rise of 22computer in exports of T-shirts to $49m towards $40m in the identical interval in FY20.

 

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Pakistan’s goods and services trade with Netherlands (Holland)

Pakistan’s goods and services trade with Netherlands (Holland) witnessed surplus of 107.62 percent during fiscal year (2020-21) as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the exports to Holland during June 2021 also increased by 44.29 percent, from $74.846 million as against the exports of $108.000 million.

On month-on-month basis, the exports to Holland rose by 23.74 percent during June 2021 as compared to the exports of $87.273 million in May 2021, the SBP data revealed.

Overall Pakistan’s exports to other countries witnessed growth of 13.72 percent during FY 2020-21, from $22.536 billion to $25.629 billion, the SBP data showed.

 

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Dawood optimistic about $50bn export target prospects

• Says Pakistan now wants to make a name for itself in non-traditional sectors, including engineering and pharmaceuticals
• Hopeful that country will reach target by fiscal year 2023

APP
16 Aug 2021

ISLAMABAD: Adviser for Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood Sunday expressed hope that by the last fiscal year of the current government's tenure, ie, 2023, the country's exports would reach $50 billion by following the policy of trade diversification in potential trade sectors and markets.

Export diversification, focus on non-traditional sectors and increasing exports to new markets, including the African market, would not only enhance the volume of the country's exports, but would also help to achieve the export targets, the adviser told this during an exclusive interview with APP.

'Make in Pakistan' is the government's top priority trade policy, which aimed to introduce Pakistan's traditional and non-traditional export sectors and local products in the international trade market.

The adviser said that now the export of mobile and motorcycle from Pakistan would be started within the same trade policy.

He said the export of these two products to the global market would usher an era of exporting engineering products from the country.

He said that at present, the share of engineering goods exports in the global trade market was 51 percent.

He said that Pakistan now wanted to make a name for itself in the world in non-traditional sectors, including engineering and pharmaceuticals.

He informed the recently local Karachi based electrical and electronics goods company 'INOVI TELECOM (PVT) LIMITED' has just exported the first consignment of 5,500 "Made in Pakistan" 4G mobile phones to the Middle East.

Dawood said that this would be the beginning of an era of high value-added exports from Pakistan.

He said that this also marks the beginning of product diversification from our traditional to nontraditional sectors.

"I urge other mobile manufacturers in Pakistan to emulate this example and aggressively export their products," he said.

The adviser said that in the recent past, when the United States, Secretary of States for commerce visited Pakistan, he had identified in his trade facilitation scheme Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) a number of traditional trade products in which Pakistan had not yet shipped goods to the US trade market.

He added the US, GSP program provides nonreciprocal, duty-free tariff treatment to certain products imported to the United States from designated Beneficiary Developing Countries (BDCs).

Most of these items came from Pakistan's traditional commercial products, including textiles, which were now being worked on diligently.

"Geographical trade diversification and search for new markets will further increase our exports," he said.

And in this regard, the government wanted to increase exports to Europe and the United States by making its trade goods globally competitive, he added.

Replying to a question, he said that now the manufacturing of motorcycles had been started in Pakistan and with this Pakistan would start exporting up to 10,000 motorcycles which would be increased up to export of 30,000,000 motorcycles annually in the coming years.

He said that Japanese company 'Honda' has decided to set up its own manufacturing plant in Pakistan, which will make Pakistan a hub of motorcycle manufacturing.

They will start exporting motorcycles worth $30 million from Pakistan in coming years.

Dawood said that "we have decided to move towards import substitution which will increase our exports and create more industries in the country.

Replying to another question, he said that Pakistan's exports touched the mark of over $25 billion over the past fiscal year 2020-21, and now the government has set an export goal of $38.7 to 40 billion for the current FY 2021-22.

He said the export goal for the previous year was $ 25.3 billion for items and $6 billion for the services sector.

He said that the country's Information Technology (IT) exports had grown at 47 percent, which indicates that IT exports crossed the mark of $ 2 billion.

 

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Export-oriented sectors: ECC approves continuation of gas, power subsidy

Business Recorder
Aug 17, 2021

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet Monday approved the continuation of electricity and gas subsidy for export-oriented sectors to reduce cost of manufacturing and support the momentum of growth in exports during the fiscal year 2021-22.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin presided over the meeting of the ECC of the Cabinet, here Monday.

The Ministry of Commerce presented a summary proposing the continuation of concessional rates of electricity and RLNG to export-oriented sectors.

According to the summary, the availability of energy at regionally competitive prices is required specially in the Covid-19 scenario to sustain the exports and proposed that
(i) Electricity may be provided at US cents 9 per kWh all-inclusive to exports oriented sectors during financial year 2021-22;
(ii) the RLNG may be provided at $6.5/MMBtu all-inclusive to export oriented sectors during financial year 2021-22 and;
(iii) The Finance Division may give financial commitments that additional funds of required by Power Division and Petroleum Division shall be provided to continue concessional energy rates to export oriented sectors
.
However, the Ministry of Energy may apprise relevant ministries regarding the budget situations in time, so that the Commerce Division may place a summary for supplementary grant allocation before the ECC of the Cabinet for consideration.

The summary also noted that in federal budget 2021-22, Rs36 billion (Rs26 billion for electricity and Rs10 billion for RLNG) were initially allocated to continue concessional energy rates. As the commodity prices are on the rise, therefore, matter was taken up with the Minister for Finance and Revenue during the post-budget meetings and it was informed that the allocation has been enhanced to Rs45 billion. Further, the Power Division sought clarification from the Commerce Division whether the concessional tariffs for export-oriented sectors is required to be extended for next fiscal year 2021-2.

The Commerce Ministry reiterated its position for continuation of concessional energy rates during fiscal year 2021-22 to reduce cost of manufacturing and enhance exports.

The secretary commerce briefed the Committee that extension of concessional rates of electricity and RLNG is important for sustained increase in exports by providing energy at regionally competitive rates.
After due deliberations, the Committee approved the continuation of electricity and gas subsidy for export-oriented sectors to support the momentum of growth in exports during the fiscal year 2021-22.
The finance minister emphasised the need to incentivise export-oriented sectors in order to take exports to the next level.

At the same time, the finance minister stressed the need to rationalise usage of energy inputs.
For this purpose, the ECC constituted a sub-committee comprising Minister for Energy, Minister for Industries and Production, Advisor on Commerce, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Additional Secretary (CF) Finance Division, and other relevant officials for presenting a plan to resolve the issue of continued use of gas by some units for power generation and non-cooperation in audit of such use.
The sub-committee was directed to present its recommendations before the ECC within 30 days for further deliberation.

The ECC, dated 28th April 2021, had formulated a committee of relevant stakeholders under the chair of Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment to deliberate on the issue of power subsidies to export-oriented sectors and submit its recommendations to the ECC.

In pursuance of above direction, a meeting was held on 7th June 2021 in the Ministry of Commerce and it was mutually agreed that;

(i) supply of electricity and RLNG may be continued at US cents 9/kWh and $6.5/MMBtu to export-oriented sectors and the Ministry of Energy may start billing on standard rates from export-oriented sectors once budget is exhausted;

(ii) the Minister for Energy was of the view that the ministry has no objection in continuation of concessional energy regime, if it is budgeted and further informed that approximately Rs35 billion to provide electricity at US cents 9/kWh and Rs29 billion to provide RLNG at $6.5/MMBtu would be required;

(iii) a monthly meeting may be called by Ministry of Energy to apprise relevant ministries regarding budgetary situation so that the Commerce Division may take up the matter with the Finance Division in time through the ECC of the Cabinet for supplementary grant (if required).

Moreover, as the energy prices are continuously increasing, it is imperative that the Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment may deliberate with textiles and apparel value chain for upward revision of the RLNG prices.

The ECC considered and approved a summary presented by the Power Division for extension of incremental consumption package for K-Electric industrial consumers of X-WAPDA DISCOs and K-Electric and application of incremental consumption package for BI(Non ToU) consumers of X-WAPDA DISCOs and K-Electric at the rate of Rs12.96/kwh from 1st July 2021 to 31st December 2021.

The Power Division summary proposed that (a) rate of Rs12.96/Kwh shall be charged to industrial consumer categories (B1, B2, B3, B4 &B5) of K-Electric from 1st July, 2021 to 31st October, 2023, for off-peak incremental consumption basis over their consumption in corresponding months of period March 2019 to February 2020.
New consumers having no reference consumption available in period of March 2019 to February 2020 shall be offered the same package through slab-wise consumption structure.

 

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Pakistan exports first Mango consignment to Russia.

The Pakistan Customs has processed the first fresh mango (White Chaunsa) consignment for export to Russia, quoting a statement of the FBR.

This was one of the first endeavors to introduce Pakistani fresh fruits and indigenous goods to Russia which will help Pakistani traders to capture markets not only in Russia but also in Europe by land route.

The consignment has left Pakistan at Taftan-Mirjawa (Iran) border and is destined for Moscow in Russia via Tehran-Astara (Azerbaijan)-Astrakhan (Russia) route, according to the Federal Borad of Revenue. The road distance from Taftan to Moscow via Astara is 4600 KM and it will be covered in about 7 days.

 

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Pakistan’s Sazgar Engineering to Export Its First Batch of Rickshaws to Ethiopia

Pakistan’s automotive industry is gradually beginning to establish itself in the export market. In a recent development on this front, Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SEWL) will export its first batch of auto rickshaws to Ethiopia.

This announcement was made in a tweet by the Chairman of the Engineering Development Board (EDB), Almas Hyder. He added that SEWL will export a batch of 170 rickshaws to Ethiopia in September.

SEWL is a Pakistan-based manufacturer of fully indigenous auto-rickshaws and other three-wheeled transporters. It is the largest manufacturer, seller, and distributor of three-wheelers across Pakistan, and is also the only exporter of three-wheelers or any indigenously produced vehicle in Pakistan

 

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Manufactured in Pakistan: Inovi Telecom starts exporting smartphones

15 Aug 2021

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) Authorization holder Inovi Telecom has started exporting smartphones to other countries. The first consignment of 5500 units of 4G smartphones carrying "Manufactured in Pakistan" tag has been exported to UAE. PTA congratulates the company for this landmark achievement. This is the result of concerted efforts for the development of mobile device manufacturing ecosystem in the country.

The successful implementation of Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) and enabling government policies including the Mobile Manufacturing Policy have created a favourable environment for mobile device manufacturing in Pakistan.

As a part of this policy, Inovi Telecom Pvt Ltd was issued mobile manufacturing authorization by PTA on 9th April 2021. Within 4 months, the company has managed to achieve exporting 'Manufactured in Pakistan' phones.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021