The latest trade figures from the State Bank of Pakistan reveal a nuanced performance for the nation’s export sector in March 2026. Textile exports, the traditional powerhouse of the economy, recorded a slight year-on-year dip of 1.29%, with total shipments valued at $1.42bn compared to $1.44bn in the same month last year. However, the short-term outlook appears more positive as the sector registered a month-on-month increase of 5.04% over February’s figures. This monthly recovery suggests that despite global demand fluctuations, Pakistan’s textile manufacturers are finding ways to scale up production and fulfill international orders as the spring season progresses.
Looking at the cumulative performance for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2026, the textile group has maintained a steady growth trajectory, rising 2.28% to reach $13.34bn. This consistent performance underscores the sector’s critical role, as it continues to account for over 56% of Pakistan’s total export basket. Within the group, readymade garments emerged as the standout performer in March, generating $362.74m in foreign exchange and marking a nearly 10% increase. While knitwear saw a decrease in value, bedwear exports remained stable with a marginal rise, reflecting a varied demand landscape across different textile categories in international markets.
The food group secured its position as the second-largest contributor to the national export tally, though it faced significant headwinds compared to the previous year. Export earnings for this group reached $424.59m in March, representing a 15.59% decline from March 2025. On a cumulative nine-month basis, the food group has seen a sharper contraction of over 30%. Despite these broader challenges, the rice segment remained a resilient pillar of foreign exchange, with exports growing by more than 25% year-on-year to reach $198.22m. Additionally, the oil seeds, nuts, and kernels category witnessed an explosive growth of 90% compared to the previous year, highlighting emerging opportunities in specialized agricultural products.
Beyond the major categories, several niche sectors showed promising signs of expansion. Sports goods recorded a robust 17.85% year-on-year increase, while leather manufacturers saw their foreign earnings grow by over 8%. These gains help to diversify the export base and reduce the country’s over-reliance on a few core industries. Conversely, the surgical goods and medical instruments sector experienced a minor decline, and the chemical and pharmaceutical group saw a slight contraction in its export value. These shifts reflect the ongoing adjustments within Pakistan’s industrial sectors as they navigate changing global standards and competitive pressures from regional peers.
A notable surge was observed in the petroleum group, which, although still representing a small portion of the total export basket at 4.35%, saw its earnings skyrocket by nearly 94% year-on-year. This helped bring the total monthly exports across all sectors to $2.53bn. While the overall export figure is down compared to the high benchmarks set in March 2025, the consistent month-on-month growth across textiles, food, and sports goods provides a sense of optimism. As the fiscal year moves into its final quarter, the focus for policymakers and exporters alike will be on sustaining this monthly momentum to offset earlier yearly declines and strengthen the country’s trade balance.
Follow the PakBanker Whatsapp Channel for updates across Pakistan’s banking ecosystem