Qudsia Bano

Pakistan’s export performance in December was weighed down by a sharp decline in agro and food exports, led primarily by a significant drop in rice shipments, according to the Monthly Trade Report released by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

TDAP data shows that agro and food exports declined by 40 percent year-on-year in December, making the sector a major contributor to the overall fall in export earnings during the month. The decline occurred alongside comparatively smaller contractions in parts of the textile sector, which continued to account for a significant share of Pakistan’s export basket.

Within the agro and food category, rice exports recorded a steep contraction. According to the report, rice exports fell by 38 percent in December to $208 million, compared with the same month last year. Rice remained among Pakistan’s leading agricultural export items; however, the sharp reduction in export value significantly affected total agro export receipts.

The product-wise export tables included in the TDAP report indicate that the decline in agro exports was broad-based, with several food items posting lower export values during the month. The contraction in December followed a similar trend observed during the cumulative period of the ongoing fiscal year.

For the first half of FY26 (July–December), TDAP data shows that agro and food exports declined by 35 percent to $2.688 billion, compared with the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. The cumulative figures underline sustained pressure on Pakistan’s agricultural exports during the first six months of the fiscal year.

In contrast, the textile sector showed comparatively less severe contraction during the period. While certain textile categories recorded declines, the overall downturn was smaller than that observed in agro and food exports. Textiles remained the largest contributor to Pakistan’s export earnings, helping to partially offset losses from agriculture-related products.

The TDAP report notes that Pakistan’s overall exports declined on a year-on-year basis in December, with the downturn in agro and food exports playing a significant role. The report provides detailed sector-wise and product-wise data showing export values, growth rates, and comparisons with previous periods.

According to the document, cumulative export data for July–December FY26 reflects lower earnings from agriculture-related products, even as some non-agricultural items maintained a relatively stable performance. The figures presented in the Monthly Trade Report illustrate how sectoral movements shaped Pakistan’s export profile during December and the first half of the fiscal year.

Credit: INP-WealthPk