ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit increased by nearly 16 per cent during the first four months of the current fiscal year, reaching $14.628 billion between July and October 2026, according to the latest figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The trade deficit stood at $12.614 billion during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year, indicating an increase of more than $2 billion on a year-on-year basis.
According to the PBS data, Pakistan’s exports during the first four months of FY2026-27 totalled $11.33 billion, while imports exceeded $25.96 billion. Exports registered an increase of 8.52 per cent, whereas imports rose by 12.59 per cent, widening the gap between the two.
Trade Deficit Widens Further in October
The monthly figures also showed an increase in the trade deficit during October 2026.
Compared with September, exports rose by 2.84 per cent to $2.92 billion, while imports increased by 5.72 per cent to $6.80 billion.
Consequently, the monthly trade deficit climbed by 10.30 per cent to $3.87 billion. On a year-on-year basis, the trade deficit in October was 19.70 per cent higher than in the same month last year.
A trade deficit occurs when the total value of a country’s imports exceeds the value of its exports over a given period.
A sustained increase in the trade deficit can put pressure on a country’s foreign exchange reserves and affect its external payments balance.
