Current account posts $244m deficit in December

January 19, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan has recorded a current account deficit of $244 million, the latest data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed today.

Last month, the country recorded a current account surplus of $98m, while in December, 2024 the current account surplus stood at $454m.

On a cumulative basis, the current account deficit in 6MFY26 was recorded at $1.17bn,  when compared to the surplus of $957m in 6MFY25.

During December, total exports fell by 5.8% to $3.69bn compared to $3.91bn in the same month of last year. While it rose 19.6% as against the exports of $3.08bn in the previous month.

Total imports rose 18.4% to $7.04bn as compared to the imports worth $5.95bn recorded in December of last year. Compared to the previous month, imports rose 23.8%.

Accordingly, the trade deficit in goods and services rose 65% from a year ago to $3.36bn. On a monthly basis, it widened 28.7%.

Cumulatively, the trade deficit in 6MFY26 was recorded at $17.56bn, a rise of 33.9% when compared to the deficit of $13.11bn in 6MFY25.

During the first 6 months of current fiscal year, exports fell 0.7% to $20.27bn compared to $20.41bn in the same period last year.

Imports rose 12.8% to $37.83bn in 6MFY26 compared to $33.52bn in the same period last year.

The data further details that the workers' remittances in December increased by 16.5% to $3.59bn as against $3.08bn in December 2024; while on a monthly basis, the remittances went up by 12.6% as compared to $3.19bn in the previous month.

Cumulatively in 6MFY26, workers' remittances were recorded at $19.73bn as compared to $17.85bn in 6MFY25, depicting a rise of 10.6%.

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