Pakistan’s trade deficit has continued to widen during the first nine months of FY26, driven primarily by a sharp decline in exports, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics).
In March 2026, the country recorded a trade deficit of $2.8 billion as exports declined significantly while imports also eased slightly. On a cumulative basis, the trade gap reached $27.9 billion, marking a 23.1% year-on-year increase.
Exports for the month stood at $2.275 billion, reflecting a 14% decline compared to the same period last year, although they remained largely stable on a month-on-month basis. Imports totaled around $5.1 billion, down 3.1% year-on-year and 3.3% lower than the previous month.
Despite the fall in imports, the sharper contraction in exports continued to pressure the external account, widening the overall trade imbalance.
Economic analysts note that weakening export performance remains the primary concern for Pakistan’s external sector, even as import demand shows gradual moderation.
