ISLAMABAD, November 6, 2026 — Pakistan’s merchandise trade deficit widened by nearly 20% to $3.88 billion in October 2026, compared with $3.24 billion a year earlier, as imports grew considerably faster than exports, according to figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Exports reached $2.93 billion during October, an increase of 2.84% from approximately $2.85 billion in the corresponding month last year.
Imports, meanwhile, rose 11.81% to $6.81 billion from around $6.09 billion in October 2025, widening the gap between the country’s export earnings and import payments.
The trade deficit also increased by 10.30% compared with September 2026, when it stood at approximately $3.52 billion.
The latest figures show that Pakistan’s merchandise trade imbalance continued to expand during the first four months of the 2026–27 financial year.
Between July and October, the cumulative trade deficit reached $14.63 billion, an increase of approximately 16% from $12.61 billion during the corresponding period of the previous financial year.
Total imports during the four-month period rose 12.59% to $25.96 billion, compared with approximately $23.06 billion a year earlier.
Exports also recorded growth, increasing 8.52% to $11.34 billion from $10.45 billion during July–October 2025.
However, the stronger increase in import spending meant that export growth was insufficient to prevent a widening trade gap.
The figures cover merchandise trade and do not include services exports, services imports or remittances. They therefore represent the balance of trade in goods rather than Pakistan’s overall external current account position.
The October data indicate that while exports continued to grow, the faster expansion in imports increased the country’s merchandise trade deficit both on a monthly basis and over the first four months of the financial year.