Textile exports edge higher to $17.93 billion in FY26

Pakistan's textile exports recorded a modest 0.26% increase during FY2025-26, reaching $17.93 billion compared with $17.88 billion in the previous fiscal year, according to provisional data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Wednesday.

 

The slight growth was primarily driven by readymade garments, whose exports rose 3.87% to $4.29 billion from $4.13 billion a year earlier. Cotton yarn exports also posted strong growth, climbing 12.40% to $765 million from $680.7 million.

 

Other categories showing positive performance included other textile materials, with exports increasing 8.67% to $790.9 million, while raw cotton exports nearly tripled, surging 199.2% to $2.6 million.

 

However, several major textile segments recorded declines during the fiscal year. Exports of made up articles (excluding towels and bedwear) slipped 0.71% to $770.3 million, while knitwear exports fell 0.88% to $4.97 billion. Bedwear exports remained almost unchanged, easing 0.01% to $3.11 billion, and towel exports declined 1.93% to $1.06 billion.

 

Exports of cotton cloth dropped 7.55% to $1.67 billion, while tents, canvas, and tarpaulin exports decreased 3.81% to $120.1 million compared with the previous fiscal year.

 

On a year-on-year basis, textile exports fell 16.71% in June 2026, declining to $1.27 billion from $1.52 billion in June 2025.

 

According to the PBS, Pakistan's total exports stood at $2.25 billion in June 2026, down 16.25% from May and 9.08% lower than the same month last year.

 

For the full fiscal year, the country's total exports declined 5.93% to $30.14 billion, compared with $32.04 billion in FY2024-25.

 

Meanwhile, imports increased 8.14% to $69.76 billion, up from $64.51 billion a year earlier.

 

Based on the provisional figures, Pakistan's trade deficit reached $4.68 billion in June 2026, while the cumulative trade deficit for FY2025-26 stood at $39.62 billion.