Textile exports drop 7% YoY in Jan 2026

February 17, 2026 (MLN): The country's total textile exports drop by 7.13% YoY to $1.46bn in January 2026 compared to $1.57bn in January 2025, data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) showed.

Likewise, on a month-on-month basis, the exports of the same group registered a decrease of 8.5% MoM compared to exports worth $1.59bn in December 2025.

Cumulatively in 7MFY26 P, the textile exports increased by 3.27% YoY to $10.56bn compared to $10.22bn in 7MFY25.

The total exports as per BOP for January clocked in at $2.75bn, down by 8.71% YoY compared to $3.01bn in January 2025.

Likewise, on a monthly basis, exports decreased by 0.44% MoM.

In January 2026, Textile Group products remained the major exportable goods for Pakistan as this group accounted for 53.1% of the total exports.

During the review month, key contributing products under the textile head were Knitwear ($391.92m), Readymade Garments ($359.61m), and Bed Wear ($257.64m).

Knitwear exports fell by 3.15%, Readymade Garments exports dropped by 0.45%, and the inflow of foreign currency through Bed Wear decreased by 11.95% .

The food group remained the second most contributing group in total exports. The export value of this group stood at $387.15m, showing a significant decline of 31.48% YoY compared to $565.02m in January 2025.

Likewise, on a monthly basis, the exports from the respective group fell by 10.61% MoM compared to $433.11m in December 2025.

Collectively in 7MFY26 P, the earnings from food group exports decreased by 34.97% YoY to $2.69bn compared to $4.14bn in 7MFY25.

Under the same group, Rice remained the major source of foreign exchange earnings as the export value of the commodity during January 2026 stood at $169.96m marking an increase of 8.94% MoM and 37.38% YoY.

The export of Oil Seeds, Nuts and Kernels stood at $18.37m in January, declining by 26.18% YoY and 41.76% MoM compared to $24.88m in January 2025 and $31.54m in December 2025 respectively.

Going forward, the exports of surgical goods & medical instruments declined by 6.92% YoY to clock in at $36.4m.

The exports of leather manufacturers also saw a negative trend as they went down by 6.33% YoY to $52.37m in January 2026.

Conversely, sports goods foreign earnings decreased by 7.05% YoY to $34.37m in January 2026.

However, when compared with the figure of $39.94m in December 2025, the export of sports goods has dropped by 13.94% MoM.

Inflow through the chemical and pharmaceutical products fell by 7.09% YoY to $105.98m in January 2023 compared to $114.07m in SPLY.

The data further shows that the share of the Petroleum group in the country’s total export basket was only 2.55% in January 2026.

During the review period, the country earned $69.97m from exports of petroleum products, declining by 42.23% YoY.

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