'6% PSF import duty ruined Pak textile industry'

14 May '15

2 min read

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has said that six per cent import duty on import of polyester staple fiber (PSF) has ruined the textile industry as it has become uncompetitive when incidental charges are added to the import duty, the Pakistani media has reported.

APTMA Chairman SM Tanveer said the regional competitors are offering duty drawbacks besides rebate to their textile industries. As a result, textile exports from Pakistan has become 18 per cent more expensive against the regional competitors due to higher domestic polyester fibre price e.g. in China, the FOB price for PSF is 70.1 yuan/kg (US $ 1.13/Kg.) whereas in Pakistan it is Rs 137/Kg. ($1.34 /Kg), this difference is further compounded by the higher cost of doing business.

Textile industry in Pakistan is becoming unviable in terms of export of yarn and fabric he said, the industry growth has become stagnant due to non-diversification.

He further highlighted that the world dependence on polyester is around 70 per cent at present against merely 19 per cent in Pakistan. This situation has made it difficult for local industry to find a foothold in the world market.

Tanveer said, unlike India, China, Bangladesh and other competitors there is also no duty drawback for industry in Pakistan, As a result, the import of PSF yarns into Pakistan has also started in huge quantities, so far during the first ten months of the current fiscal year over 38,000 tons of man-made fibre yarn has been imported from the Far East and India. (SH)

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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