Pakistan’s exports to nine regional nations increased by 5.1% in the first month of the new fiscal year (FY25). Total exports totaled $357 million, up from the same period a year ago when they were $339.6 million, the State Bank of Pakistan said. The increase was led primarily by increased exports to China, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
In FY25, its exports to regional countries totaled $4.4 billion, a slight increase of 1.49% from $4.33 billion in FY24.
China was still Pakistan’s regional largest trading partner, with around 60% of the region’s total exports. In July, exports to China went up by 24.7% to $199.6 million compared to $160.1 million during the same period last year. Exports to China during the entire fiscal year fell by 8.6% to $2.47 billion compared to $2.71 billion in FY24.
Chinese imports also increased, up 14.7% in July at $1.69 billion, from $1.47 billion. For FY25 as a whole, Chinese imports rose by 20.8% to $16.31 billion, from $13.50 billion in FY24.
Conversely, export to Afghanistan plummeted. They declined by 38.2% to $54.3 million in July FY25 compared to $88.06 million in July FY24. The decline is attributable to less land-route trade and sparse official data.
Official exports to Iran were nonexistent during July, with the majority of trade still taking place informally in barter systems along the border. Exports to India were also minimal at only $1.15 million, frequently channeled through third-party markets like Dubai and Singapore, raising the total cost.
