Pakistan’s non-textile exports fell by 16.54% during the first quarter (July–September) of the ongoing fiscal year 2025–26, mainly due to a steep decline in raw food exports. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), overall non-textile export earnings decreased from $3.85 billion last year to $2.825 billion this year. The major contributor to this decline was a sharp fall in rice exports, marking the first drop after 19 consecutive months of growth.
The PBS report revealed that rice exports plunged by 42.02% year-on-year, affecting both basmati and non-basmati categories. Basmati rice exports saw a 45.56% fall in quantity and 43.64% in value, while non-basmati exports dropped 41.10% in value and 22.13% in volume. Analysts attribute this decline to supply chain disruptions and shifting trade routes that began impacting the market from July 2025. This reversal has raised concerns for one of Pakistan’s most reliable foreign exchange sources.
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Other food exports also showed a downward trend, dropping by 13.10% overall. Tobacco exports fell 48.21%, spices declined 8.71%, and vegetable exports dropped a sharp 41.14%. However, not all sectors recorded losses — exports of meat rose 5.59%, fruits increased 17.04%, and fish and related products surged 27.81%. This mixed performance highlights how Pakistan’s agricultural export base remains vulnerable to climate, logistics, and policy shifts.
In contrast, non-food value-added exports showed modest improvement. Engineering goods exports grew by 1.98%, driven by increased demand for electric fans, auto parts, and rubber tyres. Cement exports also rose sharply — by 41.01% in volume and 51.86% in value — while footwear exports edged up by 0.99%. Nonetheless, exports of leather footwear fell by 2%, and canvas shoes dropped 27.44%, showing that gains were uneven across categories.
Leather goods exports rose 1.46%, including a 2.22% rise in leather garments and a 0.36% increase in gloves. Meanwhile, raw leather exports declined 3.69%. Pakistan’s renowned surgical instruments sector recorded a modest 1.52% growth, as major international brands continue to rebrand and resell Pakistani products in Western markets. Sports goods exports jumped 19.19%, largely due to a 26.95% surge in football exports, reflecting strong global demand ahead of major sports events.
On the downside, exports of carpets and rugs dropped 12.72%, while jewelry fell 98.71%, handicrafts declined 94.38%, and molasses plunged 85.15%. Exports of gur (jaggery) decreased 23.15%, precious stones fell 5.60%, and furniture exports dropped 12.60%. Despite gains in select industrial sectors, the steep fall in food-related exports has raised concerns about Pakistan’s trade resilience, emphasizing the urgent need for diversification, export incentives, and supply chain reforms.