Pakistan’s Trade Deficit Expands by 18% YoY in January 2025 Amid Rising Imports
Pakistan’s trade deficit grew by 18% year-on-year (YoY) in January 2025, reaching $2.3 billion, compared to $1.96 billion in the same month last year, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Exports for January 2025 saw a modest increase of 4.6%, totaling $2.92 billion, up from $2.792 billion in January 2024. On the other hand, imports surged by 10%, rising to $5.233 billion from $4.756 billion in the same month last year.
January 2025 Trade Deficit Shows Improvement with 5.5% Decrease, Exports Increase Slightly
When compared to December 2024, the trade deficit showed a slight improvement, with a 5.5% decrease from $2.447 billion. January’s exports were slightly higher than the previous month, totaling $2.92 billion, while imports declined by 2.3%, from $5.358 billion in December to $5.233 billion in January.
Trade Deficit Remains Stable at $13.49 Billion in FY25, Exports Increase by 10% and Imports Rise by 6.9%
For the first seven months of FY25, the trade deficit grew remained relatively stable at $13.49 billion, reflecting a 3% increase from the $13.116 billion recorded during the same period last year. During this period, exports rose by 10%, reaching $19.551 billion, compared to $17.77 billion in the same months of FY24. Imports also increased by 6.9%, rising to $33.03 billion, up from $30.0 billion during the same period last year.
This data highlights ongoing challenges in managing Pakistan’s trade balance, with a notable rise in imports despite growth in exports.