Pakistan’s trade deficit widened sharply in December 2025, rising by nearly 24 percent to 3.7 billion dollars compared to the same month last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. In December 2024, the trade gap stood at 2.99 billion dollars, showing a clear deterioration in the country’s external trade position.
The increase was mainly driven by falling exports and steadily rising imports. Exports in December 2025 dropped to 2.32 billion dollars, a decline of more than 20 percent from 2.91 billion dollars recorded a year earlier. At the same time, imports increased to 6.02 billion dollars, up slightly from 5.9 billion dollars in the same period last year.
On a month on month basis, the trade deficit jumped by over 28 percent compared to November 2025. This surge reflected a combination of lower export earnings and a noticeable rise in import bills within a single month.
The situation looks more concerning over the longer term. During the first six months of the current fiscal year 2025 to 26, the trade deficit expanded by nearly 35 percent to 19.2 billion dollars. Exports during this period fell by almost 9 percent, while imports rose by 11 percent. Meanwhile, the current account has also slipped into deficit, adding pressure to Pakistan’s fragile external balance.
