Pakistan’s Trade Gap Widens 28% to $22.04 Billion Despite January Reprieve

Overview

• PBS reported the July–January FY26 trade deficit at $22.04 billion, a 28.22% increase from a year earlier.
• Cumulative exports fell 7.1% to about $18.20 billion as imports rose 9.42% to $40.23 billion.
• January exports reached roughly $3.06 billion, up 34.96% month on month and 3.73% year on year, topping $3 billion for the first time on record.
• January imports declined to about $5.79 billion, down 4.85% from December and 1.41% from a year earlier.
• The January trade deficit narrowed to about $2.72 billion, down 28.53% month on month and 6.61% year on year, though Business Recorder noted ongoing structural pressures on the balance of payments.