Pakistan recorded a strong rise in exports during September 2026, offering a positive sign for the country’s external trade sector.
According to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), merchandise exports reached approximately $2.94 billion in September, up from around $2.50 billion in September 2025. This represents year-on-year growth of about 17.6%.
Exports also improved compared with the previous month. On a month-on-month basis, overseas shipments increased by around 16.1% in September.
Pakistan Exports Reach $8.42 Billion in Three Months
The improvement was not limited to September.
During the first three months of fiscal year 2026-27, from July to September, Pakistan exported goods worth approximately $8.42 billion.
That was around 10.8% higher than the $7.59 billion recorded during the same period a year earlier.
The latest figures indicate that Pakistan’s export sector has started FY27 with stronger overseas sales after exports declined during the previous fiscal year.
Trade Deficit Still Remains a Challenge
Despite stronger exports, Pakistan’s trade deficit continued to widen because the country also recorded a significant increase in imports.
Imports reached around $6.49 billion in September 2026, compared with $5.85 billion a year earlier. As a result, the monthly trade deficit increased to approximately $3.56 billion, up 6.2% year-on-year.
For the July-September quarter, imports climbed to about $19.22 billion, while the trade deficit reached roughly $10.79 billion. The quarterly deficit was more than 15% higher than the same period last year.
What Does the Latest Data Show?
September’s 17.6% export growth is an encouraging development for Pakistan because higher exports can bring more foreign currency into the country.
However, the wider trade deficit shows that export growth alone is not enough. Imports are also rising quickly, meaning Pakistan will need sustained export growth in the coming months to improve its overall trade balance.
The next monthly trade figures will show whether September’s export momentum can continue during the second quarter of FY27.
