Pakistan’s Exports Drop Over 12% in August amid Rising Imports

September 16, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan’s exports witnessed a sharp decline in August 2025, both on a monthly and yearly basis, according to the Advance Release of External Trade Statistics published by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

Exports for the month stood at Rs. 683.37 billion (approximately $2.42 billion), down 10.39% from July 2025 and 11.18% lower compared to August 2024. In dollar terms, the drop was even steeper, with exports falling 12.49% year-on-year.

Despite the monthly dip, cumulative exports for the first two months of FY2025-26 (July–August) showed modest growth. Exports totaled Rs. 1.45 trillion, reflecting a 2.43% rise compared to the same period last year. In dollar terms, exports rose slightly by 0.65%, reaching $5.1 billion.

Top Exported Goods in August 2025:

• Knitwear – Rs. 126 billion
• Readymade Garments – Rs. 92.8 billion
• Bedwear – Rs. 76.1 billion
• Cotton Cloth – Rs. 44.5 billion
• Rice (Other) – Rs. 26.8 billion
• Towels, Made-up Articles, Cotton Yarn, Basmati Rice, and Cement were also among the leading exports.

Imports Increase Year-on-Year Despite Monthly Dip

Pakistan’s imports in August 2025 totaled Rs. 1.50 trillion (around $5.31 billion), reflecting a 9.43% decline from July 2025, but an 8.45% increase compared to August 2024. In dollar terms, imports rose 7.01% year-on-year.

Cumulative imports for July–August reached Rs. 3.16 trillion, a 16.5% increase over the same period last year. In dollars, imports stood at $11.14 billion, up 14.53% from the previous year.

Top Imported Goods in August 2025:

• Crude Petroleum – Rs. 138.2 billion
• Refined Petroleum Products – Rs. 100.3 billion
• Palm Oil – Rs. 95.4 billion
• LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) – Rs. 78.2 billion
• Other key imports included Plastic Materials, Iron & Steel, Electrical Machinery, CKD/SKD Motor Cars, Mobile Phones, and Steel Scrap.

Trade Deficit Widens

The country’s trade deficit for August 2025 stood at Rs. 819.08 billion or $2.90 billion. The cumulative trade deficit for the first two months of FY2025-26 rose to Rs. 1.72 trillion (approximately $6.04 billion).