By Ayesha Saba

Pakistan’s textile imports surged 36.06% month-on-month to Rs180.47 billion in June 2026 from Rs132.61 billion in May, powered by a 71.03% jump in raw cotton purchases, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

According to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), a copy of which is available with Wealth Pakistan, in dollar terms, the textile import bill increased by 37.11% month-on-month to $647.44 million from $472.22 million in May 2026.

The June bill was also higher than the Rs176.69 billion recorded in the corresponding month of 2025, showing year-on-year growth of 2.14%. In dollar terms, imports rose by 3.70% from $624.34 million in June last year.

Raw cotton provided the strongest monthly push. Pakistan imported 132,321 metric tonnes of raw cotton worth Rs61.38 billion, or $220.18 million, during June. Compared with May, the quantity increased by 71.03%, while the import value jumped by 68.66% in rupee terms and 68.84% in dollar terms.

Compared with June 2025, raw cotton import quantity rose by 11.69%. However, its value declined by 2.30% in rupees and 0.81% in dollars.

Synthetic fibre imports also recorded broad-based growth. The country imported 48,547 metric tonnes valued at Rs19.35 billion, or $69.40 million. The quantity was 22.56% higher than that in May, while the value increased by 21.23% in rupees and 21.38% in dollars.

On a year-on-year basis, synthetic fibre imports grew by 1.96% in quantity, 10.86% in rupee value and 12.55% in dollar value.

Imports of synthetic and artificial silk yarn reached 42,498 metric tonnes, costing Rs24.53 billion, or $88 million. Compared with May, the quantity rose by 12.05%, while the value increased by 14.16% in rupees and 14.38% in dollars.

The category also performed strongly compared with June 2025, registering growth of 3.46% in quantity, 18.83% in rupee value and 20.65% in dollar value.

Worn clothing posted the strongest year-on-year increase among the listed textile items. Imports reached 120,758 metric tonnes worth Rs16.35 billion, or $58.67 million. The quantity rose by 22.09% from May, while the rupee and dollar values increased by 25.15% and 28.22%, respectively.

Compared with June 2025, worn clothing imports increased by 33.60% in quantity, 43.36% in rupee value and 45.55% in dollar value.

Imports classified as “other textile items” amounted to Rs58.87 billion, or $211.19 million, in June. These were up by 28.71% in rupee terms and 30.41% in dollar terms from May, although they remained 8.54% and 7.15% lower, respectively, than those in June 2025.

Credit: INP-WealthPk