Jul-Aug trade deficit swells 18.11pc YoY

Pakistan's trade deficit widened 18.11 percent during July and August, according to Business Recorder, which cited a merchandise trade summary released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Thursday. The gap grew to USD7.116 billion from about USD6.025 billion in the same two months a year earlier. Both months fall within the current fiscal year, 2026-27.

Imports rose 13.03 percent to USD12.575 billion over the two months, while exports increased 7.04 percent to USD5.46 billion. August showed a month-on-month slowdown on both sides, with exports falling to USD1.508 billion from USD2.951 billion in July. Imports also dropped, to USD5.678 billion from USD6.898 billion in the prior month.

Compared with August 2025, exports rose 3.81 percent to USD2.508 billion from USD2.416 billion. Imports for the month climbed 7.38 percent from USD5.288 billion to USD5.678 billion, and the report put the year-on-year deficit increase at 10.38 percent.