Pakistan’s trade deficit widened significantly in the first nine months of FY26, highlighting growing pressure on the country’s external balance.
According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the trade deficit increased by 22.65% to $27.81 billion, compared to $22.67 billion in the same period last year.
The increase in the deficit was mainly caused by a drop in exports and a rise in imports during July to March FY26. Exports fell by 8%, reaching $22.73 billion, down from $24.72 billion in the corresponding period of FY25. This decline shows challenges in maintaining strong export performance.
On the other hand, imports grew by 6.64% to $50.54 billion, compared to $47.39 billion last year. The rise in imports added further pressure on the trade balance, contributing to the widening gap between exports and imports.
Looking at monthly data, exports in March 2026 stood at $2.26 billion, which is 14.4% lower than $2.64 billion recorded in March 2025. Imports also decreased slightly to $4.99 billion, compared to $5.28 billion in the same month last year.
The trade deficit for March 2026 was recorded at $2.73 billion, showing a 3.71% increase compared to $2.63 billion a year earlier. However, on a month-on-month basis, the deficit improved, narrowing by 9.36% from $3.01 billion in February 2026.