Moaaz Manzoor

Pakistan’s trade flows with major partner countries showed notable shifts in October, with significant increases in exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Italy, Poland and Thailand, while exports to markets such as China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and several European destinations declined, according to the Monthly Trade Report for October 2025 issued by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

The report shows that Pakistan’s exports to the UAE rose to 285 million dollars in October compared with 154 million dollars in October of the previous fiscal year, marking an 85 percent increase. Singapore also emerged as one of the fastest-growing destinations, with exports rising to 60 million dollars from 17 million dollars last year, showing an increase of 262 percent.

Exports to Italy increased to 104 million dollars from 83 million dollars last year, recording a growth of 25 percent, while exports to Poland rose to 49 million dollars from 36 million dollars, reflecting an increase of 35 percent. Thailand also recorded higher shipments, with exports increasing to 32 million dollars from 21 million dollars last year, showing a rise of 51 percent. In contrast, exports to China declined to 230 million dollars from 267 million dollars last year, reflecting a fall of 14 percent.

Exports to Afghanistan more than halved to 59 million dollars from 130 million dollars last year. Exports to Bangladesh dropped to 56 million dollars from 65 million dollars last year, a decline of 14 percent, while exports to Sri Lanka fell to 22 million dollars from 34 million dollars, showing a decrease of 36 percent.

Exports to the United States, Pakistan’s largest export market, decreased slightly to 517 million dollars from 523 million dollars last year, while exports to Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, France, Denmark and Canada displayed mixed patterns with minor increases or decreases. For the July–October period, the United States remained the top export destination with shipments valued at 2,106 million dollars, compared with 1,977 million dollars last year, showing a rise of 6 percent. Exports to the UAE reached 697 million dollars compared with 586 million dollars last year, representing an increase of 19 percent.

Exports to Spain, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Australia, Tanzania and Portugal registered growth, while shipments to China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia showed declines. On the import side, China continued to be Pakistan’s largest source. Imports from China during October amounted to 1,636 million dollars, up from 1,345 million dollars last year, showing an increase of 22 percent. Imports from the UAE increased to 613 million dollars compared with 351 million dollars last year, indicating a rise of 74 percent.

Imports from Saudi Arabia stood at 390 million dollars, up from 168 million dollars last year, showing an increase of 132 percent. Other major import origins showing growth included Indonesia, the United States, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Oman, Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, Malaysia, Germany, Brazil and Romania. For the July–October period, China supplied 6,374 million dollars’ worth of goods compared with 4,930 million dollars last year, an increase of 29 percent.

Imports from the UAE rose to 2,174 million dollars from 1,679 million dollars, showing a rise of 30 percent. Indonesia, Japan, the United States, Thailand, Oman, Brazil, Morocco, the United Kingdom, Viet Nam and Italy also registered year-on-year growth in shipments. The figures highlight significant shifts in Pakistan’s trade relationships during the month under review and the cumulative four-month period.

Credit: INP-WealthPk