Pakistan exports gain 14% in April

May 18, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan's exports recorded a healthy recovery in April 2026, reaching $2.48 billion up 14.04% compared to April 2025 and 9.49% higher than March 2026, according to data from released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The textile sector remained the backbone of export earnings, contributing $1.48bn, a jump of 21.27% over the same month last year.

Knitwear led the charge with exports of $413.9m, up 24.33% year-on-year, while readymade garments brought in $350.8 million, rising 15.9%.

Bed wear earned $237.3m, growing 21.28%, and cotton yarn posted a striking 109.6% increase to reach $78.9m, showing a sharp rebound in demand.

The food group, however, painted a softer picture, earning $395.6m a decline of 4.55% from April 2025.

Rice exports totalled $187.1m, contracting 9.33% year-on-year, though basmati varieties bucked the trend with a 56.12% surge to $71.4m.

Vegetable exports fell sharply by 78.38% to just $8.8m, while tobacco posted a notable gain of 80.29% to $12.9m.

Oil seeds, nuts, and kernels also outperformed, surging 419.7% to $33.4m.

The petroleum group saw exports climb to $69.3m, up 5.08% over April 2025.

Petroleum products (excluding top naphtha) drove this, rising 51.85% to $69.3m, offsetting the complete absence of top naphtha exports this month compared to $20.3m a year ago.

In the other manufactures category, chemicals and pharmaceutical products stood out, earning $137.1m up 35.15% year-on-year largely on the back of other chemicals which grew 37.09%.

Sports goods earned $38.8m, up 33.38%, with footballs contributing $24.5m. Surgical goods and medical instruments brought in $37.7m, a modest 7.62% gain.

On the cumulative front, however, exports for the July–April period of fiscal year 2025-26 stood at $25.2bn, falling 6.26% compared to $26.9bn in the same period last year, weighed down by a 32% drop in food group earnings, partly due to the complete absence of sugar exports which had contributed $407m in the prior year.

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