Official Figures Reveal an $86 Million Difference
Official trade data has challenged the government’s claim that Pakistan earned a record $568 million from seafood exports during the 2025-26 financial year.
Figures compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics show that exports of fish and fish products generated $482.078 million during the year. The verified total is nearly $86 million lower than the amount previously announced by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.
Pakistan exported approximately 215,170 metric tons of seafood during FY2025-26. In the previous financial year, the country exported about 216,482 metric tons worth $465.4 million.
The figures show that export earnings increased by around 3.6 percent. However, export volume declined by approximately 0.6 percent.
This indicates modest improvement in export value rather than the dramatic growth suggested by the ministry’s earlier announcement.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs had described seafood exports of $568 million as an all-time record. It linked the claimed performance to reforms under Pakistan’s Blue Economy strategy and stronger access to international markets.
The ministry said seafood shipments had expanded to China, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the European Union and the United States.
June Export Performance Weakens Sharply
Monthly trade figures also showed a considerable slowdown during June 2026.
Pakistan exported around 15,770 metric tons of fish and fish products worth approximately $36.7 million during the month.
In May, seafood export earnings stood at nearly $51.9 million. This means monthly revenue fell by about 29 percent in June.
Export quantity also dropped by more than 33 percent compared with May.
The performance was also weaker compared with June 2025. Export volume declined by 11.25 percent, while earnings fell by 3.31 percent year-on-year.
The June data makes the ministry’s $568 million claim difficult to reconcile with the official annual total.
Pakistan had earned approximately $445 million from seafood exports during the first 11 months of FY2025-26.
To reach $568 million, June exports would have needed to exceed $122 million. That amount would have been far higher than any previous monthly seafood export performance.
However, PBS recorded only $36.7 million in seafood earnings during June.
Different Data Methods May Explain Discrepancy
Industry experts believe the difference may have resulted from the use of preliminary export certification records instead of completed trade transactions.
Former Marine Fisheries Department Director General Israr Pathan said the department records shipments using export certificates issued before goods leave Pakistan.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics records completed trade transactions after export documentation has been finalised.
This means some shipments covered by Marine Fisheries Department certificates may be delayed, cancelled or recorded in a later financial period.
Industry officials said PBS figures are treated as Pakistan’s final official trade statistics because they represent completed exports rather than planned or certified shipments.
The discrepancy has raised questions about coordination between the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Marine Fisheries Department and PBS.
Exporters said government departments should reconcile their figures before making major public announcements.
Using preliminary estimates without clearly identifying them can create confusion about the actual performance of an important export industry.
Verified Data Still Shows Gradual Recovery
Despite the controversy, the official $482.078 million figure still represents an increase over the previous financial year.
Pakistan earned around $465.4 million from seafood exports in FY2024-25. The latest result therefore shows continued recovery in export revenue, even though shipment volume remained largely unchanged.
Seafood exports are important for Pakistan’s coastal economy and support fishermen, processors, transporters and thousands of workers in Sindh and Balochistan.
The sector has also benefited from improved food safety compliance and greater access to international markets.
However, industry representatives said future growth will require better cold-storage facilities, modern fishing vessels, stronger quality controls and more value-added seafood processing.
They also stressed that credible trade statistics are essential for negotiations with international buyers, investors, banks and development partners.
The difference between the government’s $568 million announcement and the PBS total of $482.078 million does not erase the industry’s progress.
However, it highlights the need for accurate, coordinated and transparent reporting before record-breaking export claims are presented publicly.
