Pakistan Trade Deficit Widens Sharply in June

2026-07-03 10:29 By Larissa Caser 1 min. read

Pakistan recorded a trade deficit of PKR 1,263.2 billion in June 2026, widening from PKR 815.4 billion a year earlier and deteriorating sharply from PKR 781.2 billion in the previous month.

Imports rose 24.4% year-on-year to PKR 1,886.3 billion, driven largely by a 57.6% increase in crude petroleum purchases to PKR 195.5 billion, highlighting the country's continued reliance on imported energy.

Meanwhile, exports fell 11.1% to PKR 623.1 billion, weighed down by a 37.9% decline in rice shipments and slower growth in other key exports, including knitwear, bed wear, and cotton cloth.

Over the July 2025–June 2026 fiscal year, imports increased 8.5% while exports declined 5.6%, widening the trade deficit 22.3% to PKR 11,098.3 billion.



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Pakistan recorded a trade deficit of PKR 988.4 billion in September 2026, widening from PKR 945.1 billion a year earlier and from PKR 916.1 billion in the previous month. The September gap is equivalent to USD 3.56 billion. On a year-on-year basis, exports rose 15.8% to PKR 815.1 billion, outpaced in absolute terms by imports, which climbed 9.4% to PKR 1,803.5 billion. Over the July–September 2026 period, the first quarter of the 2026-27 fiscal year, shipments increased 8.8% to PKR 2,338.9 billion while purchases advanced 11.2% to PKR 5,343.1 billion, widening the cumulative trade deficit by 13.2% to PKR 3,004.2 billion (USD 10.79 billion).
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Pakistan recorded a trade deficit of PKR 1,263.2 billion in June 2026, widening from PKR 815.4 billion a year earlier and deteriorating sharply from PKR 781.2 billion in the previous month. Imports rose 24.4% year-on-year to PKR 1,886.3 billion, driven largely by a 57.6% increase in crude petroleum purchases to PKR 195.5 billion, highlighting the country's continued reliance on imported energy. Meanwhile, exports fell 11.1% to PKR 623.1 billion, weighed down by a 37.9% decline in rice shipments and slower growth in other key exports, including knitwear, bed wear, and cotton cloth. Over the July 2025–June 2026 fiscal year, imports increased 8.5% while exports declined 5.6%, widening the trade deficit 22.3% to PKR 11,098.3 billion.
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