By Ijaz Kakakhel

Pakistan’s exports fell sharply by 14% year-on-year to $2.28 billion in March 2026 compared to $2.65 billion in March 2025, as per the Pakistan Textile Council’s monthly export analysis report available with Wealth Pakistan. The data shows a significant contraction in export earnings during the month, reflecting a decline across major export categories, including the textile sector.

Textile and apparel exports, which form the largest share of Pakistan’s exports, were recorded at $1.33 billion in March 2026, reflecting a 7% decrease compared to $1.43 billion in March 2025. Within the textile sector, value-added segments such as apparel and made-up articles recorded exports of $1,087 million during the month, down from $1,177 million in March last year, reflecting an 8% year-on-year decline.

Traditional textile exports also recorded a decrease, with exports falling to $247 million in March 2026 compared to $258 million in March 2025, indicating a 4% decline. Despite the year-on-year contraction, export figures showed no change on a month-on-month basis, with total exports remaining at $2.28 billion in both February and March 2026, indicating a pause in the declining trend.

Similarly, textile exports recorded a slight improvement on a monthly basis, increasing by 1% from $1.32 billion in February 2026 to $1.33 billion in March 2026. The data indicates that while exports remained under pressure on a yearly basis, short-term trends showed signs of stabilization during the latest month. The overall monthly performance reflects continued fluctuations in Pakistan’s export earnings, with declines in key categories contributing to the contraction observed in March 2026.

Credit: INP-WealthPk