By Qudsia Bano

Pakistan’s upstream textile sector, particularly cotton and fiber segments, continued to show signs of weakness during July–March FY26, as per the Pakistan Textile Council’s monthly export analysis report available with Wealth Pakistan. Cotton exports declined to $1,867.9 million during the period, compared to $1,988.8 million in the same period last year, reflecting a reduction in one of the sector’s key components.  Similarly, fiber and related textile categories declined across multiple segments, contributing to the overall contraction in traditional textile segments.

The data shows that exports of man-made staple fibers decreased to $258.4 million from $278.6 million, while man-made filaments dropped to $40.7 million from $54.0 million. Exports of knitted and crocheted fabrics also declined significantly, falling to $25.2 million compared to $34.5 million in the previous year. Other upstream categories, including vegetable textile fibers and related products, also recorded decreases during the period.

A broader trend analysis indicates a consistent decline in traditional textile exports over recent years, with total exports in this category falling from $3,322 million in 2021–22 to $2,284 million in FY26. The data reflects continued pressure on upstream segments, which form the foundation of the textile value chain. The report indicates that while downstream value-added segments have shown resilience, upstream sectors continue to face challenges as reflected in declining export performance.

Credit: INP-WealthPk