Moaaz Manzoor

Pakistan’s imports of motor cars and palm oil recorded sharp year-on-year increases in November FY 2025-26, emerging among the fastest-growing import items and contributing to the overall rise in the country’s import bill during the month, according to the Monthly Trade Report for November 2025 released by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

TDAP’s commodity-wise import data show that motor car imports (HS 8703) surged to $166 million in November FY26, compared with $53 million in November FY25, reflecting a steep 213% year-on-year increase. Motor cars ranked among the top import items, showing the highest growth rates during the month.

The sharp rise in motor car imports formed part of a broader increase in transport-related imports during November. The surge in this single category contributed significantly to higher aggregate import payments, as total goods imports during November FY26 increased to $5.25 billion, up from $4.98 billion in November FY25, marking a 5.42% year-on-year increase.

Alongside motor cars, palm oil imports (HS 1511) also recorded strong growth during the month. TDAP data indicate that palm oil imports in November FY26 amounted to $353 million, compared with $235 million in the same month of the previous fiscal year, reflecting a 50% year-on-year increase.

Palm oil remained one of Pakistan’s largest food-related import items in value terms during November. The increase in palm oil imports contributed to higher agro and food import payments, which rose to $791 million in November FY26, up from $678 million in November FY25, a 17% increase.

TDAP’s top import commodities tables show that while several import categories recorded declines or modest changes during November, motor cars and palm oil stood out for their exceptionally strong year-on-year growth rates, reshaping the composition of Pakistan’s import basket during the month.

The combined rise in high-value imports such as motor cars and palm oil coincided with an overall increase in imports and weaker export performance. Goods exports in November FY26 declined to $2.398 billion, compared with $2.83 billion in November FY25, widening the goods trade deficit for the month.

Credit: INP-WealthPk