Pakistan’s trade deficit rises 23% to $28bn in July-March

Pakistan’s trade deficit significantly increased by 22.65% to $27.81 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (9MFY26), as compared to the same period of the previous year, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Thursday.

The country’s trade balance, the gap between exports and imports, was recorded at a deficit of $22.67 billion in July-March of the previous fiscal year (9MFY25).

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

Exports in 9MFY26 stood at $22.73 billion, down 8% against $24.72 billion recorded in the same period of FY25.

Imports were recorded at $50.54 billion, up 6.64% against $47.39 billion in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s exports clocked in at $2.26 billion in March 2026, down 14.4% against $2.64 billion recorded in March 2025.

On the other hand, imports stood at $4.99 billion in March 2026, down 5.37% against $5.28 billion recorded in the same period the previous year.

In March 2026, the country’s trade deficit stood at $2.73 billion, up 3.71% against $2.63 billion in March 2025.

However, on a monthly basis, Pakistan’s trade deficit declined 9.36% against $3.01 recorded in February 2026.