Islamabad, Fe 18: Pakistan’s textile exports recorded a substantial increase of 15.85% in January 2025, reaching $1.686 billion, as per the latest data.
During the first seven months of FY2024-25, overall exports grew by 10.6% to $10.77 billion, mainly driven by finished textile products, while raw material exports declined. Knitwear exports experienced a remarkable surge of 29.3% to $468.3 million, followed by a 19.1% rise in readymade garments to $397 million. Bedwear exports also climbed 14.5% to $288.7 million. Additionally, cotton cloth exports saw a moderate increase of 3.35% to $165 million, whereas towel exports rose by 6.1% to $101.97 million.
Conversely, raw textile materials saw a significant drop. Cotton yarn exports fell sharply by 19.9% to $65 million, while raw cotton exports completely ceased, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
In the food sector, exports saw a steep decline of 16.9%, totaling $653.6 million in January 2025. A major factor was a 33.2% drop in rice exports to $319 million, attributed to India’s reentry into the global market. Basmati rice exports contracted by 13% to $77.8 million, while other rice varieties plummeted 37.8% to $241 million. Vegetable exports took a major hit, plunging 53.2% to $34.1 million, whereas sugar exports saw a boost, reaching $64.3 million compared to zero last year.
Read More:
Meezan Bank Signs MoU with TKBB to drive the growth of Islamic Finance
On the import side, Pakistan’s petroleum imports increased by 3.45% to $1.37 billion. Crude oil imports rose 18.8% to $435.6 million, petroleum products surged 21.1% to $517.6 million, and LPG imports grew 21.2% to $105.9 million. However, LNG imports saw a notable decline of 29.6% to $313.3 million.
Machinery imports also experienced an uptrend, rising 18.4% to $887.7 million. Textile machinery imports skyrocketed by 100.7% to $22.2 million, while power generation machinery imports increased 67.8% to $59.3 million. Agricultural machinery imports also grew 29.2% to $15.5 million.
The transport sector showed significant growth, with imports rising by 58% to $214 million. Imports of CKD/SKD heavy vehicles soared by 159.4% to $128.2 million, driven by a staggering 360.3% increase in bus and truck imports, totaling $43.34 million. Additionally, CKD/SKD vehicle imports surged 118.7% to $79 million, while CBU imports dropped 15.9% to $27 million.
With robust growth in textile and transport sectors, Pakistan’s trade dynamics are shifting, reflecting evolving market demands and economic policies.
