ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports rose 5.55 per cent to $3.379 billion in JulyAugust 2026-27 from $3.202bn in the correspondingperiodlastyear.
The marginal growth in export proceeds was due to elevated input costs, which eroded exporters’ competitiveness, and external shocks that disrupted shipments, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data released on Friday.
Two major setbacks mainly contributed to slower export growth the suspension of trade with Afghanistan since October 2025 and falling exports to the Middle East due to the war in the region, especially in the United Arab Emirates.
The PBS data showed exports of readymade garments surged 13.59pc in value and 10.92pc in quantity during July-August FY27, while knitwear increased 4.79pc in value and 9.24pc in quantity.
However, bedwear dipped 0.31pc in value and 1.31pc in quantity.
Towel exports rose slightly by 6.74pc in value and 6.21pc in quantity in 2MFY27, while cotton cloth fell by 7.66pc in value and 10.38pc in quantity.
Yarn exports surged 34.80pc 2MFY27 on YoYbasis. Exports of made-up articles, excluding towels, rose 6.95pc, while tents, canvas and tarpaulin fell 7.17pc in 2MFY27.
Synthetic fibre imports fell 20.40pc in 2MFY27, while arrivals of synthetic and artificial silk yarn rose 8.02pc.
Raw cotton imports increased by 38.92pc during the months under review, compared with the same period a year earlier.
However, imports of second-hand clothes surged by 40.36pc during the month under review.
Oil imports Pakistan’s oil import bill grew 8.35pc in 2MFY27 to $2.750bn from $2.538bn in the corresponding month last year.
Data showed that crude oil imports rose 39.82pc in value, with a 13.70pc rise in quantity, indicating that the higher value was due to rising international oil prices. The value of petroleum products declined 2.02pc, while quantity fell 28.66pc in 2MFY27 on a YoYbasis.
On the other hand, imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) fell 28.31pc, while imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) rose 14.75pc, reflecting demand for energy products.
Imports of the telecommunication group increased by 8.95pc year-onyear, mainly due to higher imports of other apparatus during the months under review. Mobile handset imports declined by 8.85pc in the first two months of the current fiscalyear from a year ago.