Overseas investors repatriate $296m in August 2026

September 18, 2026 (MLN): Foreign investors' repatriation of profit and dividend stood at $296.2m in August 2026, rising 13.31% on a month-on-month (MoM) basis compared with $261.4m in July 2026, but down 15.07% on a year-on-year (YoY) basis against $348.7m repatriated in the same month last year, the latest data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed.

Break-up of the data revealed that payments against foreign direct investment (FDI) made up the bulk of the outflow, clocking in at $293.2m in August 2026, up 14.98% MoM from $255m in July 2026, but down 15.65% YoY from $347.6m in August 2025.

Outflows against foreign portfolio investment (FPI), on the other hand, stood at $3.0m in August 2026, down 52.38% MoM from $6.3m in July 2026, but sharply higher YoY from $1.2m in August 2025.

On a cumulative basis, profit and dividend repatriation during Jul-Aug FY27 stood at $557.6m, down 13.37% from $643.7m in the same period last year.

Sector-wise

A sector-wise breakup showed that the Financial Business sector led all outflows with $66.1m repatriated in August 2026, up 6.79% MoM from $61.9m in July 2026, but down 45.87% YoY from $122.1m in August 2025.

The Communications sector followed with $62.9m repatriated during the month, up sharply from $24m in July 2026, and up 6.89% YoY from $58.8m in August 2025.

The Power sector, which led outflows in July, fell to third with $40.3m in August 2026, down 44.87% MoM from $73.1m in July 2026, and down 59.05% YoY from $98.4m in August 2025.

The Transport sector recorded $23.8m in outflows during the month, sharply higher YoY from just $2.4m in August 2025.

The Food sector rounded out the top five with $21.9m repatriated during the month, up marginally by 7.33% YoY from $20.4m in August 2025.

Country-wise

Country-wise data showed that Netherlands was the single largest recipient of repatriated profits in August 2026 at $77.5m, up sharply from $29.8m in July 2026, and up 16.66% YoY from $66.4m in August 2025.

The United Kingdom followed with $56.0m repatriated during the month, up 18.64% MoM from $47.2m in July 2026, but down 20.98% YoY from $70.9m in August 2025.

China, the largest recipient in July, ranked third in August with $47.1m, down 58.72% MoM from $114.1m in July 2026, and down 59.67% YoY from $116.8m in August 2025.

The United States received $25.7m in August 2026, down marginally by 2.65% MoM from $26.4m in July 2026, and down 28.74% YoY from $36.1m in August 2025.

Switzerland rounded out the top five with $22.0m repatriated during the month, up 11.82% YoY from $19.7m in August 2025.

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