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Over 53 pc decline in exports to Japan since '95-96

JAVED MEHMOOD

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's exports to Japan have been steadily shrinking during the past few years, depriving this country of a huge amount of foreign exchange.

Sources told Business Recorder on Sunday that in 1995-96 Pakistan's exports to Japan settled at $577.378 million which shrank to $271.341 million by 1998-99, indicating $306.037 million fall in exports in four years.

Bilateral trade statistics show decline in the export to Japan of each and every major item from 1995-96 to 1998-99.

For example, the country exported cotton yarn valuing $366.27 million to Japan in 1995-96, but in 1998-99 yarn's external trade to that country fell to $289.608 million in 1996-97. It further shrank to $220.43 million in 1997-98 and $167.773 million in 1998-99.

Cotton fabrics (woven) export to Japan from Pakistan was at $49.32 million in 1995-96 which grew to $55.313 million in 1996-97, but fell to $31.235 million in 1997-98 and to $25.184 million in 1998-99.

Carpets export was at $22.26 million in 1995-96 which squeezed to $17.215 million in 1996-97, to $12.447 million in 1997-98 and further decreased to $8.433 million in 1998-99.

Similarly, the export of raw cotton to Japan also witnessed setback as it fetched $29.062 million in 1995-96 but dropped to $2.966 million in 1996-97, going up to $6.899 million in 1997-98 but again falling to dismal $0.736 million in 1998-99.

Medical and surgical instruments export to Japan amounted to $4.565 million in 1995-96, but declined to $3.732 million in 1996-97, to $3.071 million in 1997-98 and amounted to $3.71 million in 1998-99.

Leather export also eroded during this period as in 1995-96 Pakistan exported leather worth of $10.598 million to Japan, but in 1998-99 its external trade ended at $6.429 million.

The way Pakistan's exports to Japan are gradually but continuously declining, it appears that in the next few years the country would further lose its markets in the said country, if fresh special efforts were not made to regain the previous level of exports, sources in the ministry of commerce said.

They said that Japan had imposed dumping duty on the import of yarn of 21 count from Pakistan, discouraging and damaging overall yarn exports from here.

They said the Export Promotion Bureau, in active participation of local exporters, should hammer out a strategy to boost the exports to Japan in the future. India, they said, is systematically maintaining its hold on Japanese markets by sending business delegations and frequently organising trade fairs, but in Pakistan the officials have shown very little interest in the past, causing a setback to exports.