Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) has expressed its concern regarding the sudden hikes in prices of cotton yarn, polyester yarn, gas, electricity and petroleum prices, which have escalated the manufacturing and cost of production.

The prices of cotton yarn of 10/s have gone up from Rs 400 per bundle to Rs 420 per bundle and of 20/s from Rs 650 to Rs 680 and 24/s from Rs 710 to Rs 750. Similarly the polyester yarns per pound have gone up by 5% to 10%. In addition to raw material the prices of gas and electricity have also been increased by 10% whereas the petroleum hike of another 10% has further burdened the industrial costs.

 The cumulative effect of these hikes has raised the cost of production of Pakistani textiles by 10% and the exporters have been placed in a difficult position vis-a-vis their rivals India, China, Bangladesh to compete in international markets.