Islamabad, December 2, 2025 – Pakistan’s trade deficit surged by 37% during the first five months of the fiscal year 2025-26 (July–November) amid a decline in exports and a sharp rise in imports.
Data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Tuesday revealed that the trade gap reached $15.47 billion, up from $11.28 billion recorded in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
Exports during July–November fell by 6.39%, totaling $12.84 billion, compared with $13.72 billion in the corresponding months of FY25. Key export sectors experienced slower growth, reflecting challenges in global demand and competitive pressures.
Imports, however, surged by 13.26%, reaching $28.31 billion, compared with $25 billion during the same period last year. The increase in imports was driven primarily by higher spending on petroleum products, machinery, and raw materials needed for industrial production.
On a Month-on-Month (MoM) basis, Pakistan’s trade deficit narrowed by 11.86% to $2.86 billion in November 2025, down from $3.24 billion in October. Both exports and imports fell, with exports declining by 15.8% and imports by 13.7%.
On a Year-on-Year (YoY) basis, the trade deficit in November widened by 32.79%, as exports dropped 15.35% while imports increased 5.42% compared with November 2024. Analysts say that sustaining exports while managing rising import costs remains crucial for stabilizing Pakistan’s external sector and controlling the widening trade deficit.