ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit increased by 25.17 percent during July, the first month of the 2026-27 fiscal year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
The trade gap reached $3.94 billion compared with $3.15 billion recorded during the same month of the previous fiscal year. The increase reflected stronger import growth despite higher export earnings.
According to the PBS, exports rose by 9.54 percent year-on-year to $2.93 billion in July. Meanwhile, imports climbed 18 percent to $6.88 billion during the same period.
On a monthly basis, exports posted strong growth compared with June. Export receipts increased by 31 percent, rising from $2.24 billion to $2.94 billion.
However, imports recorded a slight monthly decline. The import bill fell by 0.17 percent compared with June, although it remained significantly higher than export earnings.
As a result, the monthly trade deficit narrowed by 15.22 percent from the previous month and stood at $3.94 billion in July.
The latest figures indicate continued pressure on Pakistan’s external trade balance despite improving export performance. Higher imports continued to outweigh export growth, contributing to the widening year-on-year trade gap.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics regularly releases trade data to monitor the country’s import, export and overall external trade performance throughout the fiscal year.
