Breakup of Pakistan’s trade data in September: PBS

The trade deficit widened to $3.53bn in September 2026, up 7.26% from $3.29bn in August, according to provisional figures from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Exports climbed 16.94% to $2.96bn, but imports rose 11.47% to $6.49bn, so the gap grew. Compared with September 2025, the deficit was 5.43% wider, with imports up 11.01% year-on-year.

In rupee terms, exports came to Rs821.20bn and imports to Rs1,802.99bn, leaving a monthly shortfall of Rs981.79bn. For July to September of FY2026-27, exports grew 11.13% to $8.45bn while imports climbed 13.20% to $19.21bn. That lifted the quarterly deficit to $10.77bn, 14.87% above the $9.37bn of a year earlier.

Knitwear was the largest export earner at Rs132.59bn, while basmati and other rice varieties together brought in over Rs72bn. On the import side, petroleum products rose 22.74% month-on-month to Rs163.17bn, and iron and steel imports jumped 60.50% to Rs80.85bn. Motor car (CKD/SKD) imports reached Rs68.15bn, up 46.45% on the month.