Pakistan’s Merchandise Exports Show Slow Growth in March 2025
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s merchandise exports grew by just 1.95% year-on-year in March 2025 after facing a decline of 5.57% in February. The data was released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.
Exports from Pakistan started growing at a stronger pace in July 2024, thanks to better orders and a stable exchange rate. However, this growth slowed down later in the year, with exports showing lower increases as the months passed.
Here’s a look at the export growth in recent months:
July: 11.83%
August: 16%
September: 13.52%
October: 10.64%
November: 8.98%
December: 0.67%
January: 4.59%
In March, Pakistan’s exports reached $2.62 billion, slightly higher than the $2.56 billion recorded in March 2024. Compared to February, the exports increased by 5.10% month-on-month.
For the first nine months of the fiscal year 2025 (July- March), Pakistan earned $24.69 billion from exports, showing a 6.33% increase compared to the same period last year, when the total was $22.93 billion.
Opportunities for Pakistan’s Exporters:
In recent months, global buyers have started sourcing clothing from Pakistan instead of China and Bangladesh. This shift has opened up opportunities for Pakistani exporters to capture more market share.
However, the rise in gas tariffs and the new 20% levy on natural gas (RLNG) for textile factories may affect export growth in the coming months.
In FY24, Pakistan’s total merchandise exports increased by 10.54%, reaching $30.64 billion, up from $27.72 billion the previous year.
Pakistan’s Trade Deficit:
The trade deficit in Pakistan widened slightly by 4.50% in the first nine months of FY25, reaching $17.89 billion, up from $17.13 billion last year. However, the trade deficit narrowed in March 2025 by 7.83%, falling to $2.12 billion from $2.29 billion in March 2024.
Imports in the first nine months of FY25 grew by 6.33%, reaching $42.58 billion, compared to $40.05 billion during the same period last year. In March, imports decreased by 2.45%, reaching $4.74 billion.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised Pakistan’s import forecast for FY25, lowering it by $3.3 billion to $57.2 billion, which aligns with the government’s projection.
In FY24, Pakistan’s imports fell slightly by 0.84%, from $55.19 billion in FY23 to $54.73 billion.
Despite the challenges, Pakistan’s exports continue to show modest growth, and the country remains focused on increasing its trade and reducing the trade deficit.
