Pakistan’s trade deficit rises 25% to $25bn in July-February

Pakistan’s trade deficit significantly increased by 25% to $25.04 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year (8MFY26), as compared to the same period of the previous year, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Tuesday.

The country’s trade balance, the gap between exports and imports, was recorded at a deficit of $20.04 billion in July-February of the previous fiscal year (8MFY25).

The trade deficit expanded year-on-year (YoY) in the said period, driven by higher imports and a decrease in exports.

Exports in 8MFY26 stood at $20.46 billion, down 7.3% against $22.07 billion recorded in the same period of FY25.

Imports were recorded at $45.50 billion, up 8.1% against $42.11 billion in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s exports clocked in at $2.27 billion in February 2026, down 8.8% against $2.49 billion recorded in February 2025.

On the other hand, imports stood at $5.25 billion in February 2026, down 1.6% against $5.34 billion recorded in the same period the previous year.

In February 2026, the country’s trade deficit stood at $2.98 billion, up 4.6% against $2.85 billion in February 2025.

On a monthly basis, Pakistan’s trade deficit increased by 8.4% against $2.75 billion recorded in January 2026.