Pakistan Exports 2026: Latest Data and Top Sectors
Pakistan exports 2026 are off to an encouraging start. According to provisional Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data shared by the Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Shehzad, goods exports rose 17.6% year-on-year in September 2026 to $2.94 billion, up from $2.50 billion a year earlier. For the first quarter of FY 2026-27 (July–September), exports totalled $8.42 billion — a 10.8% increase that puts roughly $825 million more goods abroad than in the same quarter last year.
Pakistan Exports 2026: Sector-Wise Performance
The pakistan exports 2026 growth story is broad-based, extending beyond the traditional textile base. Agri and food exports surged 23% year-on-year during the first quarter — and an extraordinary 62% in September alone. Manufacturing, mining and energy exports rose 17% over the quarter, with manufacturing up 35% month-on-month in September. Textiles and apparel, the country’s largest export category, posted more modest growth of 6%.
September’s figures showed export growth outpacing import growth both year-on-year and month-on-month — a welcome sign of strengthening momentum, according to Shehzad. Exports also rose 16.1% from August’s $2.53 billion, showing the acceleration is recent and real.
Textiles: Still the Export Engine
Textile exports reached $3.379 billion during July–August 2026-27, up 5.55% from $3.202 billion a year earlier, PBS data showed. Knitwear led with $1,004 million (up 4.79%), followed by ready-made garments at $827 million (up 13.59%), cotton yarn at $160.68 million (up 34.80%) and towels at $191.14 million (up 6.74%). Some categories lagged — cotton cloth fell 7.66% and bed wear dipped 0.31% — but the overall textile trend is positive.
The government has backed exporters with a reduced Export Finance Scheme markup (19%→4.5% in the FY27 budget) and lower minimum tax on export proceeds at 1.25%, both aimed at sustaining the export-led growth strategy the country desperately needs.
The Other Side: Imports Are Rising Faster
For all the good news on the export front, the trade deficit is widening. September imports rose to $6.49 billion (up 11.1% year-on-year), pushing the monthly trade deficit to $3.56 billion. For the first quarter, imports climbed 13.2% to $19.22 billion while exports grew 10.8%, so the deficit reached $10.79 billion — up 15.1% from $9.37 billion a year earlier. Exports covered about 44% of the import bill, down slightly from 45% a year ago.
The lesson: export momentum is real, but Pakistan still imports far more than it sells. Sustaining double-digit export growth — while taming energy and machinery import costs — is the central challenge for the external sector. Follow the dollar rate and currency trends and our Pakistan economy 2026 analysis for the broader context.
What Exporters Are Saying
Exporters welcome the momentum but warn it is fragile. Textile millers say energy tariffs remain the biggest threat to competitiveness — gas and electricity prices in Pakistan are higher than in Bangladesh and Vietnam, the main rivals in apparel markets. They also want the promised tax refunds cleared faster; pending refunds lock up working capital that could otherwise fund new orders.
Agri-food exporters, riding the 62% September surge, point to better crop management and new market access in the Middle East and Central Asia. Rice and fruit shipments have found buyers willing to pay premiums for quality, and exporters argue that with consistent policy — no sudden export bans or duties — the sector could double its contribution within a few years. IT and services exporters, meanwhile, continue to push for simpler tax treatment and easier foreign-currency retention, arguing that freelancers and software firms could be Pakistan’s fastest-growing export story.
The common thread across sectors is policy consistency. Exporters who lived through years of abrupt duty changes and refund delays say the current incentive package — cheaper export finance, lower minimum tax — only works if it survives beyond the budget speech. If it does, the double-digit growth of 2026 could become a durable trend rather than a one-year bounce.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Pakistan export in September 2026?
$2.94 billion, up 17.6% year-on-year from $2.50 billion in September 2025 and up 16.1% from August 2026.
What are Pakistan’s top export sectors in 2026?
Textiles and apparel remain largest, but agri-food (+23% in Q1) and manufacturing/mining/energy (+17%) are growing fastest.
What was the trade deficit in Q1 FY27?
$10.79 billion, up 15.1% year-on-year, as imports ($19.22bn) grew faster than exports ($8.42bn).
How are textile exports performing?
$3.379 billion in July–August 2026-27 (+5.55%), led by knitwear, garments and cotton yarn.
Where is official export data published?
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics at pbs.gov.pk publishes monthly trade figures; the Finance Division also posts updates at finance.gov.pk.
Pakistan Exports 2026: FAQs
Pakistan exports 2026 data tracks the economy’s dollar earnings. From the top exports of pakistan to pakistan it exports 2026 growth, here are the key answers.
What are Pakistan’s top exports?
The top exports of pakistan remain textiles — knitwear, bedwear, and garments — followed by rice, leather goods, surgical instruments, and sports goods from Sialkot.
How are textile exports performing?
Pakistan textile exports 2026 face energy-cost and competition pressures but benefit from GSP+ access to European markets. Value-addition is the industry’s growth mantra.
What about IT exports?
Pakistan it exports 2026 are the standout success story, with freelancers and firms earning billions of dollars. Government targets aim far higher, backed by tax breaks and new technology parks.
Where can I find official data?
Pakistan exports data 2026 is published monthly by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics — the authoritative source behind every pakistan exports 2026 headline.
More Export Insights
How can small businesses start exporting?
Pakistan exports 2026 growth needs new exporters: register with TDAP, target the top exports of pakistan categories you can supply, and use e-commerce channels. Pakistan textile exports 2026 and pakistan it exports 2026 both welcome SMEs, and official pakistan exports data 2026 reveals which markets are expanding fastest.
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