Textile exports dip 1.75% in May

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s textile exports edged down 1.75 percent year-on-year to $1.53 billion in May 2025, despite a robust 25.4 percent month-on-month recovery from April’s $1.22 billion, official data showed Wednesday.

According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), cumulative textile exports for July-May FY2024-25 rose 7.37 percent to $16.36 billion, from $15.24 billion in the same period last year.

Export performance was mixed across textile categories. Knitwear shipments rose 5.74 percent to $437 million, while readymade garments grew 6.74 percent to $374.3 million. In contrast, towel exports declined 10.9 percent to $92 million, bedwear fell 2.8 percent to $269.6 million, cotton cloth plummeted 21.7 percent to $135.4 million, and cotton yarn plunged 33.8 percent to $42.5 million.

Textile exports showed strong double-digit growth from August 2024 to January 2025, but momentum slowed thereafter. After a minor dip in February, March saw a 10 percent rise before exports dropped again in April and May.

Food exports also weakened, falling 2.06 percent year-on-year to $584.6 million. Rice exports dropped 30.7 percent to $239.2 million, with basmati down 20.8 percent and other varieties 33.5 percent. Meat exports declined 8.9 percent, fruits 37 percent, and vegetables by 16.7pc. Fish and seafood, however, surged 52.4 percent to $56.5 million.

Exports of sports goods up 1.7pc to $37.6 million, with footballs down 7pc to $23 million. Surgical instruments declined 11.1pc to $36.6 million. Cement exports increased 6.15pc to $34.2 million, while chemical and pharmaceutical product exports were down 22.6pc to $125.2 million.

On the import side, the petroleum group during May 2025 recorded 15.6pc annual decline to $1.33 billion. Only LPG imports showed 26.3pc increase to $97 million. Whereas, petroleum products’ imports were down by 26pc, LNG 9.4pc, and crude by 11.9pc.

Machinery imports increased sizably by 7.75pc to $913.9 million. Significant gains were noted in textile machinery (up 56pc), power generation equipment (4pc), while construction/mining machinery down 5.3pc. Telecom machinery also down by 21.9pc, with mobile set imports down 35.8pc to $101.1 million.

Transport imports soared 53pc year-on-year to $275.7 million. Under the completely built units (CBUs) category, buses, trucks and heavy vehicles imports increased 9.5pc to $43.8 million and motor vehicles by 7.5pc to $29.7 million.