January 19, 2024 (MLN): Pakistan's revised trade deficit for the month of December clocked in at $1.83 billion compared to a deficit of $1.97bn from the previous month, improving by 7% MoM, according to the revised data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Meanwhile, compared to December 2022's deficit of $2.84bn, the trade deficit reduced by 35.7% YoY.
Exports rose by 9.68% MoM to $2.82bn compared to $2.57bn in November 2023.
While imports in December 2023 rose 2.45% MoM to $4.65bn compared to $4.54bn in November 2023.
According to the provisional figures compiled by the PBS, in Pakistani Rupees terms, exports from Pakistan during December, 2023 amounted to Rs799.6bn as against Rs734.54bn in November, 2023 and Rs517.24bn during December, 2022 showing an increase of 8.86% MoM and 54.59%YoY.
Main commodities of exports during December, 2023 were Rice Others (Rs124.04bn), Knitwear (Rs103.9bn), Readymade garments (Rs8.57bn), Bed wear (Rs64.12bn), Cotton Cloth (Rs40.68bn), Cotton Yarn (R26.98bn), Towels (Rs24.81bn), Rice basmati (Rs22.89bn), Madeup articles (excl.towels & bedwear.) (Rs17bn) and Meat and meat preparations (Rs12.47bn).
Meanwhile, imports in PKR terms into Pakistan during December 2023 amounted to Rs1.32 trillion as against Rs1.3tr in November, 2023 and Rs1.16tr during December, 2022 showing an increase of 1.66% MoM and 13.94% YoY.
Main commodities of imports during December, 2023 were Petroleum crude (Rs158.26bn), Petroleum products (Rs150.89bn), Natural gas, liquified (Rs109.52bn), Electric machinery & apparatus (Rs63.67bn), Palm oil (Rs60.32bn), Plastic Materials (Rs52.22bn), Mobile phones (Rs49.89bn), Iron & steel (Rs41.65bn), Iron and steel scrap (Rs30.43bn) and Motor cars (ckd/skd) (Rs29.54bn).
