Pakistan’s trade gap widens to $2.32bn in Feb'25

March 17, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan’s trade deficit in February 2025 increased by 34.59% YoY, standing at $2.32 billion compared to $1.72bn in February 2024, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

On a month-on-month (MoM) basis the deficit rose by 0.52%, compared to $2.30bn in January 2025.

The trade deficit widened in February 2025 as imports surged 11.70% YoY to $4.81bn, despite an 8.52% MoM decline.

In February 2025, Pakistan's exports stood at $2.49bn, reflecting a 15.59% decrease from $2.95bn in January 2025.

Cumulatively, in the first eight months of the fiscal year 2024-25, the trade deficit increased by 6.48%, rising to $15.8bn compared to $14.84bn in 8MFY24.

In terms of Rupees, the balance of trade in February 2025 was (-)Rs647.74 billion, while the cumulative balance of trade from July to February 2024-25 stood at (-)Rs4.39 trillion and in dollar terms (-)$15.8bn.

Exports

Exports from Pakistan during February 2025 amounted to Rs695.84bn (provisional) as against Rs822.41bn in January 2025 and Rs721.06bn during February 2024, showing a decrease of 15.39% over January 2025 and of 3.50% over February 2024.

In terms of US dollars, the exports in February 2025 totaled $2.49bn (provisional) as compared to $2.95bn in January 2025, showing a decrease of 15.59% over January 2025 and of 3.56% as compared to $2.58bn in February 2024.

Exports during July–February 2024-25 totaled Rs6.14tr (provisional) as against Rs5.8tr during the corresponding period of last year showing an increase of 5.88%.

In US dollar terms, exports during July–February 2024-25 totaled $22.07bn (provisional) against $20.36bn during the corresponding period of last year, showing an increase of 8.42%.

The main export commodities during February 2025 included Knitwear (Rs102.09bn), Readymade garments (Rs91.934bn), Bedwear (Rs69.716bn), Rice others (Rs.56.02bn), Cotton cloth (Rs41.55bn), Towels (Rs.27.195bn), Basmati Rice (Rs.24.68bn), Madeup articles excluding towels & bedwear (Rs17.59bn), Vegetables (Rs.17.39bn) and Cotton yarn (Rs14.36bn).

Imports

Imports into Pakistan during February 2025 amounted to Rs1.34tr (provisional) as against Rs1.46tr in January 2025 and Rs1.2tr during February 2024, showing a decrease of 8.29% over January 2025 but an increase of 11.77% over February 2024.

In US dollar terms, the imports in February 2025 totaled $4.81bn (provisional) as compared to $5.25bn in January 2025, showing a decrease of 8.52% over January 2025 but an increase of 11.70% as compared to $4.3bn in February 2024.

During July–February 2024-25, imports totaled Rs10.54tr (provisional) against Rs10.03tr during the corresponding period of last year, showing an increase of 5.09%.

In US dollar terms, imports during July–February 2024-25 stood at $37.87bn (provisional), compared to $35.19bn last year, reflecting an increase of 7.60%.

The main import commodities during February 2025 were Petroleum products (Rs130.36bn), Petroleum crude (Rs123,82bn), Palm oil (Rs102,28bn), Electrical machinery & apparatus (Rs.84.23bn), Natural gas liquified (LNG) (Rs.70.88bn), Iron and steel (Rs57.88bn), Plastic materials (Rs50.26bn), Mobile phones (Rs37.04bn), Raw cotton (Rs31.14bn) and Iron and steel scrap (Rs.27.47bn).

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