Abdul Ghani

Pakistan’s export commodities recorded varied performances in October, with several textile categories showing modest growth and petroleum-related products registering sharp increases, while major food items such as rice and oilseeds experienced significant declines, according to the Monthly Trade Report for October 2025 released by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

According to the commodity-wise breakdown for October, exports of bed linen, table linen and related products amounted to 399 million dollars, up from 388 million dollars in October last year, showing an increase of 3 percent. Exports of men’s and boys’ garments under HS code 6203 were recorded at 271 million dollars compared with 289 million dollars last year, reflecting a decline of 6 percent.

Pakistan’s exports of petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals increased sharply to 222 million dollars from 31 million dollars last year, marking a surge of 618 percent. Food-related exports, however, showed significant declines. Rice exports fell to 163 million dollars, down from 367 million dollars last year, a 56 percent decline. Exports of oilseeds under HS code 1207 amounted to 34 million dollars compared with 95 million dollars last year, showing a decline of 64 percent.

Exports of meat of bovine animals rose slightly to 34 million dollars compared with 33 million dollars last year. Among textile and apparel categories, several items recorded small increases in October. Exports of jerseys, pullovers and cardigans reached 92 million dollars compared with 89 million dollars last year, showing an increase of 3 percent. T-shirt exports stood at 71 million dollars, slightly higher than 70 million dollars last year.

Exports of women’s or girls’ suits and jackets rose to 63 million dollars from 38 million dollars, an increase of 67 percent. Hosiery exports under HS code 6115 amounted to 55 million dollars compared with 56 million dollars last year, showing a marginal decline, while exports of cotton yarn, excluding sewing thread, declined slightly. For the July–October period, bed linen remained Pakistan’s largest export commodity with shipments totaling 1,580 million dollars, compared with 1,501 million dollars last year, showing an increase of 5 percent.

Exports of men’s and boys’ garments under HS code 6203 amounted to 1,051 million dollars, down from 1,087 million dollars last year, reflecting a decline of 3 percent. Rice exports totaled 590 million dollars compared with 1,074 million dollars last year, showing a significant decline of 45 percent. Exports of petroleum oils and related refined products increased to 327 million dollars during the July–October period, compared with 147 million dollars last year, marking a rise of 123 percent.

Several value-added textile categories showed growth during the four-month period. Exports of jerseys and pullovers amounted to 378 million dollars, up from 334 million dollars last year, showing an increase of 13 percent. T-shirt exports totaled 257 million dollars compared with 245 million dollars last year, an increase of 5 percent. Exports of socks and hosiery under HS code 6115 reached 240 million dollars compared with 212 million dollars last year, reflecting a rise of 13 percent.

Women’s and girls’ suits and jackets under HS code 6204 amounted to 239 million dollars, up from 144 million dollars last year, showing an increase of 66 percent. Exports of medical and surgical instruments under HS code 9018 increased slightly to 154 million dollars from 150 million dollars last year, while cement exports rose to 135 million dollars compared with 105 million dollars last year, showing an increase of 29 percent.

Exports of fruits under HS code 804 totaled 102 million dollars compared with 87 million dollars last year, representing an increase of 17 percent. The figures reflect differing performances across export commodities during the month and the cumulative four-month period.

Credit: INP-WealthPk