Pakistan’s textile exports saw a notable rise of 5.05 per cent in February, reaching $1.37 billion, compared to $1.30 billion during the same month last year, according to the latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
However, on a month-on-month basis, textile exports fell by 13.02 per cent from $1.57 billion in January.
In the first eight months of the current fiscal year (8MFY25), textile exports grew by 6.4 per cent, totalling $11.59 billion, compared to $10.89 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year (8MFY24).
The country’s total exports for February, as recorded in the balance of payments (BOP), stood at $2.59 billion, marking a 2.44 per cent increase from $2.53 billion in February 2024. However, on a monthly comparison, exports dropped by 13.33 per cent.
Textiles remained Pakistan’s top export group in February, contributing 52.83 per cent to the overall export figures.
Key products within this group included knitwear, which brought in $351 million, readymade garments at $323 million, and bed wear with $239.42 million. These categories saw year-on-year growths of 11.8 per cent, 9.2 per cent, and 8.19 per cent, respectively.
The food sector followed as the second-largest contributor to total exports, although it experienced a sharp decline. In February, food exports totalled $429.14 million, down 32.7 per cent from $637.96 million in the same month of 2024. On a month-on-month basis, the group’s exports fell by 23.6 per cent compared to January 2025’s figure of $562.14 million.
Over the 8MFY25 period, food exports dropped by 3.9 per cent to $4.5 billion compared to $4.7 billion in 8MFY24. Rice exports, a significant part of the food group, brought in $219.15 million in February 2025, a drop of 17.3 per cent from the previous month and 41.1 per cent from the previous year.
The export of oil seeds, nuts, and kernels showed a contrasting performance, rising by 98 per cent year-on-year to $13 million in February, though they fell by 46.9 per cent month-on-month.
“Other manufacturers” formed the third-largest export group, with a value of $320.45 million, reflecting a slight dip of 1.38 per cent year-on-year and 8.38 per cent month-on-month. Within this group, carpets, rugs, and mats made an impressive comeback, with exports surging by 264 per cent year-on-year to $17.59 million. However, when compared to January 2025’s figure of $18.05 million, this category saw a small 2.5 per cent decline.
Exports of chemical and pharmaceutical products fell by 3.5 per cent year-on-year, reaching $115 million in February 2025, down from $119.5 million in the same month last year.
