ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s total textile exports saw a minor decline of 0.34% year-on-year (YoY), amounting to $1.4 billion in August 2025, compared to $1.41 billion in August 2024, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, textile exports decreased by 10.89%, down from $1.57 billion in July 2025. However, cumulative textile exports for the first two months of FY26 (2MFY26) grew by 1.75% YoY, reaching $2.78 billion, compared to $2.74 billion in the same period last year.
Overall exports in August 2025, as per the Balance of Payments (BOP) data, amounted to $2.51 billion, reflecting a 2.91% YoY increase compared to $2.44 billion in August 2024. On a MoM basis, total exports fell by 9.78%.
Textile products continued to dominate Pakistan’s export sector, comprising 55.92% of total exports. Key textile items in August 2025 included Knitwear ($420.01 million), Readymade Garments ($330.67 million), and Bed Wear ($249.79 million). Knitwear exports increased by 10.87%, Readymade Garments rose by 1.13%, and Bed Wear exports grew by 5.71%.
The food group followed as the second-largest contributor to exports. However, food exports dropped by 29.62% YoY to $346.34 million in August 2025, compared to $492.06 million in the same month last year. On a MoM basis, food exports fell by 17.28%. Despite the decline in August, food exports for 2MFY26 rose by 35.45% YoY, totaling $1.04 billion compared to $765.62 million in the same period last year.
Rice remained a key foreign exchange earner, with exports valued at $126.31 million in August 2025, showing an increase of 17.27% MoM and 38.42% YoY.
However, other categories within the food group, such as Oil Seeds, Nuts, and Kernels, saw a sharp decline, with exports falling by 68.53% YoY and 36.32% MoM to $4.62 million.
Surgical goods and medical instrument exports also saw a decline of 5.27% YoY, totaling $36.52 million, while leather manufacturers reported a 6.41% YoY drop in exports, amounting to $48.8 million.
On a positive note, exports of sports goods grew by 17.58% YoY to $38.1 million, although they declined by 1.2% MoM when compared to $38.56 million in July 2025.
The chemical and pharmaceutical sectors saw a significant decline in exports, with a 38.95% YoY drop to $86.9 million.
The petroleum group’s contribution to total exports was modest, accounting for just 2.15% of the export basket. Petroleum product exports amounted to $54.01 million, up by 26.98% YoY.
