Pakistan’s textile exports experienced a significant boost, surging by 15.85 percent year-over-year in January 2025 to $1.686 billion, according to the latest data.

In the first seven months of FY2024-25, the total textile exports rose by 10.6 percent to $10.77 billion, driven mainly by finished goods, while raw material exports saw a decline.

Noteworthy export performances included:

• Knitwear: Increased by 29.3 percent to $468.3 million

• Readymade Garments: Rose by 19.1 percent to $397 million

• Bedwear: Grew by 14.5 percent to $288.7 million

• Cotton Cloth: Increased by 3.35 percent to $165 million

• Towels: Rose by 6.1 percent to $101.97 million

However, some declines were observed:

• Cotton Yarn: Dropped by 19.9 percent to $65 million

• Raw Cotton: Exports dropped to zero, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS)

In the food export sector, there was a decline of 16.9 percent to $653.6 million in January, primarily due to a 33.2 percent decrease in rice exports, which fell to $319 million as India reopened its market. Notably, Basmati rice exports declined by 13 percent to $77.8 million, and other rice varieties fell by 37.8 percent to $241 million.

Additional changes in exports included:

• Vegetables: Plunged by 53.2 percent to $34.1 million

• Sugar: Increased to $64.3 million from zero last year

In terms of imports, petroleum imports increased by 3.45 percent to $1.37 billion, with crude oil imports rising by 18.8 percent to $435.6 million, petroleum products up by 21.1 percent to $517.6 million, and LPG imports rising by 21.2 percent to $105.9 million. Meanwhile, LNG imports fell by 29.6 percent to $313.3 million.

Machinery imports also climbed by 18.4 percent to $887.7 million, with specific sectors showing significant increases:

• Textile Machinery: Surged by 100.7 percent to $22.2 million

• Power Generation Machinery: Increased by 67.8 percent to $59.3 million

• Agricultural Machinery: Grew by 29.2 percent to $15.5 million

Additionally, transport imports rose by 58 percent to $214 million. CKD/SKD imports for heavy vehicles surged by 159.4 percent to $128.2 million, including a significant 360.3 percent increase in buses and trucks to $43.34 million. Vehicle imports under CKD/SKD increased by 118.7 percent to $79 million, while CBU imports fell by 15.9 percent to $27 million.
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