Pakistan textile exports decline in February
Pakistan textile exports recorded a notable decline in February 2026, reflecting mounting pressure on the country’s largest export industry. According to the latest figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Pakistan textile exports fell to approximately 1.3 billion dollars during the month, showing a decrease of 7.2 percent compared with February of the previous year.
The decline becomes even more significant when compared with the previous month. In January 2026, Pakistan textile exports had reached around 1.738 billion dollars. This means exports dropped by nearly 24.6 percent within a single month, indicating a slowdown in international demand and possible supply chain challenges.
The textile sector plays a critical role in Pakistan’s economy, contributing a major share of total export revenue and supporting millions of jobs across the country. Because of this importance, any decline in Pakistan textile exports quickly raises concerns among policymakers, exporters, and industry stakeholders.
Major textile categories show decline
Most key textile categories experienced lower shipments in February, contributing to the overall drop in Pakistan textile exports. Knitwear, one of the country’s leading export products, generated about 312.5 million dollars in February but declined by roughly 14.5 percent compared with the same period last year.
Bedwear exports also declined significantly. The category earned around 220.9 million dollars but recorded a decrease of 11.5 percent. Towels, another important component of Pakistan textile exports, dropped to about 81.4 million dollars, reflecting a decline of more than 16 percent.
Cotton cloth exports also weakened during the month. Shipments reached around 132.5 million dollars, which represents a decline of about 10.9 percent compared with February of the previous year. Readymade garments, a key value added textile product, generated approximately 327.3 million dollars in exports but showed a slight decrease of about 0.56 percent.
Among the major textile items, cotton yarn exports provided a rare positive development. Cotton yarn shipments increased significantly by around 43.6 percent, reaching about 73.84 million dollars. Despite this increase, the overall performance of Pakistan textile exports remained under pressure due to declines in other major categories.
Food exports also show contraction
The slowdown in Pakistan textile exports coincided with weakness in other export sectors, particularly food products. According to trade data, food sector exports declined by about 27.5 percent during the same period, reaching around 405.9 million dollars.
Rice exports experienced a sharp drop, falling by roughly 35.4 percent to around 186.7 million dollars. The decline affected both basmati and non basmati rice shipments, which remain key agricultural exports for Pakistan.
Vegetable exports recorded one of the steepest declines, dropping by approximately 75.7 percent to about 15.15 million dollars. However, fruit exports showed a slight increase of about 1.2 percent, reaching roughly 26.9 million dollars.
Some food related categories posted positive growth. Exports of oilseeds, nuts, and kernels increased by around 40.7 percent. Meat exports also grew by more than 22 percent, while fish exports rose by approximately 12.9 percent.
Mixed performance in other export sectors
Other export industries displayed mixed performance during the same period. Sports goods exports increased to around 33.25 million dollars, reflecting growth of about 6.6 percent. Football exports in particular showed stronger demand, increasing by about 9.4 percent.
In contrast, surgical instrument exports declined slightly, reaching about 34 million dollars after falling by around 6.1 percent. Cement exports showed improvement, rising by about 11.2 percent to approximately 22.2 million dollars.
Imports continue to rise across several sectors
While Pakistan textile exports declined, import activity increased in several sectors, highlighting growing pressure on the country’s trade balance. Imports in the petroleum group dropped overall by around 21.25 percent, reaching approximately 982.8 million dollars.
Within the energy category, crude oil imports fell by about 4.55 percent. Liquefied natural gas imports declined by more than 25 percent, while petroleum product imports dropped significantly by around 39 percent. However, imports of liquefied petroleum gas increased slightly.
Machinery imports increased by about 4.3 percent to around 870.8 million dollars. Telecom equipment imports rose by more than 21 percent, agricultural machinery imports increased sharply by nearly 75 percent, and power generation machinery imports grew by about 8.7 percent.
Food sector imports also increased by about 13.6 percent to approximately 908.1 million dollars. Palm oil imports grew modestly, while tea imports rose sharply by more than 33 percent. However, imports of pulses declined by about 25.5 percent.
Transport sector imports recorded the most dramatic growth. Overall imports in this sector increased by about 48.8 percent to roughly 299 million dollars. Imports of vehicles in completely knocked down or semi knocked down form increased by nearly 68.5 percent, while imports of fully built cars rose by around 43 percent.
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Trade balance challenges continue
Economists say the latest trade figures highlight the growing challenges facing Pakistan’s external sector. While Pakistan textile exports remain the backbone of the country’s export economy, the recent decline suggests the industry may be facing weaker global demand, higher production costs, and competitive pressure from other textile exporting countries.
At the same time, rising imports in machinery, food products, and transport equipment could widen the country’s trade deficit if export growth does not recover in the coming months.
Experts believe that improving industrial productivity, expanding export markets, and investing in value added textile products could help strengthen Pakistan textile exports in the long term. For now, however, the latest data signals that Pakistan’s trade sector continues to face significant economic challenges.
