China continues to hold its position as Pakistan’s primary trading partner, leading the nation’s import bill with a total of $1.41 billion in February 2026. According to the latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), imports from China grew by nearly 10 percent year-on-year compared to the same month in 2025. This trend is even more pronounced on a cumulative basis, with imports from China reaching $12.5 billion during the first eight months of the fiscal year (8MFY26), up significantly from $10.19 billion in the previous year. While monthly figures showed a slight dip of 12.9 percent compared to January, the long-term trajectory underscores China’s indispensable role in providing raw materials and finished goods to the Pakistani market.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE-Dubai) followed as the second-largest source of imports, recording $482.49 million for the month. Although this reflected a 28.8 percent decline compared to the previous February, the UAE remains a critical hub for Pakistan’s energy and transit trade, with cumulative 8MFY26 imports standing at $4.29 billion. Saudi Arabia ranked third, with monthly imports rising by 12.4 percent to $333.36 million, driven largely by petroleum and chemical products. Interestingly, the United States saw a substantial 30.6 percent year-on-year surge in imports, totaling $303.96 million for February, highlighting a strengthening trade link between the two nations across diverse sectors.
Beyond the top four, Pakistan’s import landscape showed mixed results across other regional partners. Imports from Indonesia rose by nearly 19 percent to $292.48 million, while energy-heavy imports from Qatar and Kuwait experienced declines of 27.5 percent and 21.4 percent, respectively. These shifts reflect broader changes in global commodity prices and the SBP’s ongoing efforts to manage the national import bill effectively. As the country builds up its foreign exchange reserves, maintaining a balanced trade relationship with these key partners remains a top priority for ensuring industrial productivity and price stability in the domestic market.
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