Moaaz Manzoor

Selected export items recorded strong growth in December 2025 despite an overall decline in Pakistan’s total exports, with petroleum oils and women’s apparel emerging as the top-performing products during the month, according to the Monthly Trade Report released by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

TDAP data shows that exports of petroleum oils increased by 49 percent year-on-year in December, making it one of the fastest-growing export items during the month. The rise in petroleum oil exports was recorded at a time when Pakistan’s overall export receipts declined, highlighting the item’s contribution to the export basket.

The report’s product-wise export tables indicate that petroleum oils continued to show positive performance not only on a monthly basis but also during the cumulative period of the ongoing fiscal year. According to TDAP figures, petroleum oil exports rose by 71 percent to $411 million during the first half of FY26 (July–December), compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Alongside petroleum oils, women’s apparel also posted strong growth in December. TDAP data shows that exports of women’s apparel (HS Code 6204) increased by 52 percent year-on-year during the month. Women’s apparel remained among the notable textile sub-categories to record growth despite mixed performance across the broader textile sector.

Cumulative figures further show continued growth in women’s apparel exports during the first six months of FY26. According to the report, women’s apparel exports increased by 64 percent during July–December FY26, compared with the same period last year. The growth was reflected in the product-wise export tables included in the Monthly Trade Report.

The TDAP document provides detailed breakdowns of export values and growth rates for individual products, showing that while several traditional export items recorded declines in December, selected products posted notable increases. Petroleum oils and women’s apparel were among the items with the highest percentage growth during the month.

According to the report, Pakistan’s overall exports declined on both a year-on-year and month-on-month basis in December. However, the increase in exports of petroleum oils and women’s apparel contributed positively to export earnings during the period.

The Monthly Trade Report presents comprehensive product-wise data covering monthly and cumulative export performance. The December and July–December figures highlight variations across Pakistan’s export basket, with some items recording growth even as aggregate exports remained under pressure.

TDAP’s product-level data shows that petroleum oils and women’s apparel featured prominently among export items with positive growth trends during December 2025 and the first half of FY26. The report outlines these movements through comparative tables, reflecting changes in export values across reporting periods.

Credit: INP-WealthPk