Official data indicates that Pakistan’s exports from 30 of its 71 key sectors declined in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025–26, leading to slower overall export growth and a widening trade deficit.
According to figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country’s trade deficit expanded to **$9.4 billion** between July and September. During this period, exports dropped by **3.88%** to **$7.6 billion** (Rs2.15 trillion), while imports increased by **13.9%** to **$17 billion** (Rs4.82 trillion).
The report highlights significant downturns in several major sectors, including jewellery, furniture, carpets, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, plastic materials, rice, vegetables, tobacco, seed oils, cotton fabrics, crude petroleum products, transport equipment, and handicrafts.
Food exports experienced a sharp overall decline of **31%** in the first quarter. Rice exports fell by **42%**, including a **43.6%** drop in Basmati rice. Vegetable exports were down **41%**, tobacco exports plunged **48%**, while sugar exports were completely halted. Exports of nuts and oilseeds also tumbled by **68%**.
However, textile exports presented a mixed picture – cotton cloth exports fell by 14%, but overall textile exports rose by 5.6% and ready-made garments grew by 6%. Similarly, cement exports surged by 51% and fruits by 17%.
Carpets and mats exports fell by 12%, cutlery by 12%, pharmaceuticals by 7%, and transport equipment by 38%. Jewellery sector experienced a drastic 98%plunge and handicraft exports were down by 94%. Furniture exports declined 12%.
So far as imports are concerned, food imports rose 35%, machinery by 21%, transport group by 112%, and textile-related imports by 11%.
Petroleum imports declined 6.7%, while petroleum products and natural gas dropped 30%.
It may be recalled that the government set a trade deficit target of $29.92 billion for the current fiscal year, with an export target of $35.28 billion. Under the five year “Udaan Plan” Pakistan aims to increase exports to $60 billion. However, for FY2025–26, the export growth target was limited to an additional $2.5 billion. First quarter performance indicates that instead of growth, the country’s exports have faced a setback, raising concerns about achieving the export targets.
