Textile exports inch up to USD17.93bn in FY26

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s textile exports rose marginally by 0.26 percent during July–June 2025-26, reaching USD17.93 billion compared to USD17.88 billion in 2024-25, according to provisional data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Wednesday.

According to the PBS, textile exports recorded USD17.93 billion, which were led by readymade garments, whose exports increased by 3.87 percent to USD4.288 billion, up from USD4.13 billion a year earlier.

Cotton yarn exports also posted strong growth, rising 12.40 percent to USD765 million from USD680.7 million during the same period last year.

Other commodities that recorded growth included other textile materials, whose exports increased by 8.67 percent to USD790.86 million from USD727.7 million, while raw cotton exports surged 199.20 percent to USD2.6 million, compared to USD0.871 million in the corresponding period last year.

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However, exports of several key textile products declined. Exports of made-up articles (excluding towels and bedwear) fell 0.71 percent to USD770.3 million from USD775.8 million.

Knitwear exports declined 0.88 percent to USD4.966 billion from USD5.01 billion, while bedwear exports edged down 0.01 percent to USD3.112 billion from USD3.113 billion. Towel exports decreased 1.93 percent to USD1.06 billion from USD1.082 billion.

Similarly, cotton cloth exports declined 7.55 percent to USD1.672 billion from USD1.808 billion, while exports of tents, canvas and tarpaulin fell 3.81 percent to USD120.11 million, compared to USD124.8 million during the same period of the previous year.

On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, however, textile exports declined by 16.71 percent in June 2026, falling to USD1.267 billion from USD1.521 billion in June 2025.

According to the PBS, Pakistan’s total exports in June 2026 stood at USD2.252 billion (provisional), compared with USD2.689 billion in May 2026, reflecting a 16.25 percent month-on-month decline. Exports were also 9.08 percent lower than the USD2.477 billion recorded in June 2025.

During July–June 2025-26, the country’s total exports amounted to USD30.139 billion (provisional), compared with USD32.040 billion during the corresponding period of the previous year, registering a 5.93 percent decline.

Meanwhile, imports during July–June 2025-26 increased 8.14 percent to USD69.761 billion (provisional), compared with USD64.507 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Based on the provisional figures, Pakistan’s trade deficit stood at USD4.679 billion in June 2026, while the cumulative trade deficit for July–June 2025-26 was USD39.622 billion.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026