Pakistan’s trade deficit widens to $3.9bn in October

November 06, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan’s trade deficit widened 10.30% month-on-month (MoM) to $3.88bn in October 2026, compared to $3.52bn in September 2026, as imports rose at a much faster pace than exports during the month, according to provisional data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

On a year-on-year (YoY) basis as well, the trade deficit expanded by 19.70% from $3.24bn recorded in October 2025, adding pressure on the external account.

Monthly Performance:

Exports in October 2026 edged up to $2.93bn, registering a marginal 0.21% MoM increase compared to $2.92bn in September 2026.

Imports rose to $6.81bn, up 5.72% MoM from $6.44bn in September.

The sharper increase in imports, relative to the near-flat exports, was the primary driver of the wider monthly trade gap.

As a result, the trade deficit widened to $3.88bn during the month.

Yearly Performance:

On a YoY basis, exports rose by 2.84% from $2.85bn in October 2025.

Imports rose by 11.81% YoY from $6.09bn, and since import growth outpaced the rise in exports, the trade deficit widened to $3.88bn, up 19.70% from $3.24bn in the same month last year.

Cumulative Trend (July–October 2026):

During the first four months of FY27, total exports stood at $11.34bn, marking an 8.52% increase YoY compared to $10.45bn in the corresponding period of FY26.

Meanwhile, cumulative imports rose 12.59% YoY to $25.96bn, up from $23.06bn last year.

Consequently, the cumulative trade deficit widened to $14.63bn, showing a 15.97% increase compared to $12.61bn in the corresponding period of FY26.

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