Exports drop 7.78% from July to December FY2025-26, December exports fall 21.44%; imports reach Rs 9.72 trillion, up by 13.12% in six months.
In local currency, Pakistan’s exports in the first half of fiscal year 2025-26 reached Rs 4.27 trillion, showing a 7.78% decline compared to Rs 4.63 trillion during the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The reduction in exports is a result of slower growth in key sectors, as detailed in the bureau’s provisional report.
In December 2025 alone, exports were valued at Rs 635.97 billion, marking a 21.44% decrease on a year-on-year (YoY) basis compared to Rs 809.55 billion in December 2024. On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, December 2025 exports also dropped by 6.41%, from Rs 679.56 billion in November 2025.
Key sectors contributing to December’s export figures included knitwear (Rs 104.27 billion), readymade garments (Rs 100.18 billion), bed wear (Rs 62.08 billion), rice (Rs 37.30 billion), cotton cloth (Rs 31.15 billion), towels (Rs 21.83 billion), and made-up articles excluding towels and bedwear (Rs 15.82 billion). Other notable exports included cotton yarn (Rs 15.28 billion), petroleum products (Rs 15.05 billion), and meat & meat preparations (Rs 13.69 billion).
On the import side, Pakistan’s imports during the first half of FY26 totaled Rs 9.72 trillion, showing a 13.12% increase compared to Rs 8.60 trillion in the same period last year. Imports in December 2025 amounted to Rs 1.71 trillion, representing a 14.97% increase from November 2025 and a 4.44% rise over December 2024.
The major imports in December included petroleum products (Rs 179.65 billion), petroleum crude (Rs 151.11 billion), palm oil (Rs 85.88 billion), LNG (Rs 77.53 billion), plastic materials (Rs 73.66 billion), iron & steel (Rs 61.02 billion), iron & steel scrap (Rs 55.08 billion), motor cars (Rs 49.67 billion), electrical machinery (Rs 45.83 billion), and mobile phones (Rs 44.73 billion).
These figures reflect the broader trends in Pakistan’s trade balance, with rising imports outpacing exports, contributing to ongoing concerns about the country’s trade deficit. The government is under pressure to address these issues through improved export strategies and policies aimed at increasing domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.
