Pakistan’s textile exports recorded a weaker performance in November 2025, extending concerns over the sector’s momentum despite modest growth during the first five months of FY26, according to data from the Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Textile and apparel exports totalled $7.84 billion during July–November FY26, up 2.8% from the same period last year and accounting for about 61% of the country’s overall exports, according to the Pakistan Textile Council (PTC).
Monthly performance weakened in November 2025, with textile exports falling 2.7% year-on-year and declining 11.7% month-on-month.
Official data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed textile exports at $1.42 billion in November, down 2.57% from the same month last year and 11.9% lower than October’s $1.616 billion. Most major categories recorded year-on-year declines, while readymade garments posted growth.
In November, knitwear exports fell 4.87% to $393.77 million, bedwear declined 3.4% to $245.6 million, and towels dropped 6.3% to $79.9 million. Cotton cloth slid 9.7% to $123.2 million, while cotton yarn exports plunged 25.6% to $59.98 million. In contrast, readymade garments rose 9.2% to $358.8 million compared with November last year.
PTC data showed traditional textile categories continued to trend lower over the medium term, with exports declining from $1,782 million (July–November FY22) to $1,276 million (July–November FY26).
During July–November FY26, the report flagged declines in several headings, including CH-52 cotton (-8.66%), CH-54 man-made filaments (-17.6%), CH-56 wadding/felt/non-wovens (-2.01%), CH-57 carpets (-15.34%), CH-60 knitted fabrics (-31.08%), and CH-53 other vegetable textile fibres (-41.2%).
Value-added exports under Chapters 61–63 increased to $6,559 million (July–November FY26) from $6,052 million (July–November FY22). PTC reported growth drivers in knitwear (+5.7%), non-knit apparel (+5.9%), and other made-up articles (+3.7%), with these lines collectively showing a 5% increase in FY26 to date.
By destination, the European Union remained the largest market with exports of $3.114 billion, though declines were recorded in some top product lines, including HS 62032200 (-14.93%), HS 61109000 (-6.94%), and HS 63023130 (-9.98%). Exports to the United States stood at $2.102 billion, with declines noted in HS 62032200 (-22.5%), HS 61099090 (-13.6%), and HS 63071020 (-12.0%).
The United Kingdom recorded exports of $772 million, with declines in selected lines including HS 62032200 (-16.29%), HS 63026010 (-7.83%), HS 61059000 (-30.12%), and HS 63023190 (-13.66%). Exports to Bangladesh and the UAE were reported at $277 million and $272 million, respectively, with Bangladesh’s import basket concentrated in cotton yarn and fabrics and the UAE showing variation across apparel and fabric categories.
Analysts note that while value-added apparel continues to underpin export earnings, the sustained decline in traditional textiles and selective weakness in key clothing products underscore the challenges facing the sector in the current cost and demand environment.
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