Pakistan's exports surge 35% month-on-month

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports recorded a sharp month-on-month increase in January, rising by nearly 35% compared to December 2025, according to provisional figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

The data shows that exports stood at Rs 857 billion ($3.06 billion) in January, up from Rs 635.7 billion ($2.27 billion) in December. This represents an increase of 34.8% in rupee terms and 35.0% in dollar terms.

During the same period, imports declined by around 5%, falling to Rs1,622.3 billion ($5.79 billion) from Rs1,707.0 billion ($6.08 billion) in the previous month.

As a result of higher exports and lower imports, the trade deficit narrowed to Rs765.2 billion ($2.73 billion), down from Rs1,071.3 billion ($3.81 billion) in December 2025, a 29% contraction.

Year-on-year trend

On a year-on-year basis, exports increased by 4.2% in rupee terms and 3.7% in dollar terms, rising to Rs857.0 billion ($3.06 billion) in January 2026 from Rs822.4 billion ($2.95 billion) in January 2025.

Imports recorded a marginal decline of 0.8% in rupee terms and 1.4% in dollar terms, easing to Rs1,622.3 billion ($5.79 billion) from Rs1,635.4 billion ($5.87 billion) during the same period.

The trade deficit also improved year-on-year, decreasing by 5.9% in rupee terms and 6.6% in dollar terms compared to January 2025.

Cumulative performance

However, cumulative trade figures for July-January FY2025-26 indicate a decline in overall export performance. Exports during the period fell by 6% in rupee terms and 7.1% in dollar terms, amounting to Rs5,122.5 billion ($18.20 billion), compared to Rs5,447.9 billion ($19.58 billion) in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Imports, meanwhile, rose by 10.8% in rupee terms and 9.4% in dollar terms to Rs 11,337.7 billion ($40.23 billion), resulting in a cumulative trade deficit of Rs 6,215.2 billion ($22.04 billion).

PBS noted that data from the Directorate of Research and Statistics, Federal Board of Revenue, for January is still awaited, and that the figures are provisional. The bureau also cautioned that minor variations may occur due to rounding.