Islamabad: The United States remained the top destination for Pakistani exports during the fiscal year 2024-25, with total exports crossing USD 6 billion, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
Exports to the US were recorded at USD 6,028.193 million from July to June FY25, reflecting a 10.72% increase compared to USD 5,444.197 million in the previous fiscal year (FY24). This growth solidifies the US position as Pakistan’s largest export market for the second consecutive year.
In contrast, exports to China, the second-largest export destination, fell by 8.6%, totaling USD 2,476.790 million in FY25 compared to USD 2,709.901 million in FY24. Despite the decline, China remained a key trade partner.
The United Kingdom ranked third, with exports reaching USD 2,160.262 million, up from USD 2,015.120 million in the previous year — an improvement of approximately 7.2%.
Other notable export destinations included:
United Arab Emirates: USD 2,121.961 million (FY25) vs. USD 2,082.009 million (FY24)
Germany: USD 1,987.554 million vs. USD 1,515.555 million
Holland (Netherlands): USD 1,492.284 million vs. USD 1,385.348 million
Spain: USD 1,482.822 million vs. USD 1,449.857 million
Italy: USD 1,132.231 million vs. USD 1,122.001 million
Pakistan also recorded higher exports to Afghanistan, rising to USD 773.892 million from USD 558.032 million, and to Bangladesh, which grew to USD 787.348 million from USD 661.192 million.
Exports to France stood at USD 563.763 million, compared to USD 508.690 million in the previous year. However, exports to Belgium saw a slight dip to USD 543.426 million from USD 556.950 million.
Among key Gulf and regional markets, exports to Saudi Arabia were recorded at USD 704.317 million, slightly lower than USD 710.293 million in FY24. Exports to Turkiye declined more significantly, dropping to USD 264.742 million from USD 336.878 million, reflecting a contraction of nearly 21.4%.
The SBP figures highlight a mixed performance across export markets in FY25, with gains in the US, UK, EU countries, and regional neighbors like Afghanistan and Bangladesh, while shipments to China, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia faced downward trends.
Trade experts attribute the export growth to improved bilateral trade dynamics, higher demand in key Western markets, and sector-specific gains in textiles, rice, and IT services. However, they also caution that export sustainability depends on maintaining competitive pricing, addressing supply chain bottlenecks, and diversifying export products and markets.
The data reflects Pakistan’s continued reliance on a few major destinations for the bulk of its export earnings, underscoring the importance of ongoing trade diversification efforts.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
