Shipments drop to $7.29bn as agriculture drags performance despite modest gains in engineering, cement and footwear.

By Monitoring Desk

Pakistan’s non-textile exports declined 17.32 percent to $7.286 billion in the first seven months of FY26, from $8.812bn a year earlier, mainly due to a sharp contraction in agricultural exports and weak value-added shipments, official data showed.

Rice exports recorded the steepest decline during the period. Export value fell 40.51pc year-on-year to $1.305bn, while volumes dropped 32.94pc to 2.439 million tonnes, data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed. The decline was recorded across both basmati and non-basmati varieties, reflecting lower global prices and weaker demand in key markets.

To support the sector, the government has announced a Rs15 billion subsidy package for rice exporters.

Outside agriculture, export performance was uneven with limited growth in select manufacturing segments.

Engineering goods exports increased 5.85pc in 7MFY26, driven by higher shipments of industrial machinery, transport equipment, electric fans, auto parts and rubber tyres.

Cement exports showed marginal growth in volume, rising 0.33pc year-on-year, while export value increased 9.91pc. Exporters cited the prolonged closure of the Torkham border since October as a constraint on shipments to Afghanistan.

Footwear exports rose 3.51pc during the period, supported by a 32.09pc increase in other footwear shipments. Leather footwear exports declined 2.55pc, while canvas footwear exports dropped 52.04pc.

Leather sector exports increased 0.04pc, supported by a 6.65pc rise in leather garments. Raw leather exports declined 4.37pc.

Exports of surgical instruments declined 0.45pc during the period, with industry sources noting rebranding of Pakistani products by international companies in Western markets.

Analysts say a sustained recovery in non-textile exports will depend on a rebound in value-added shipments and stabilisation in agricultural exports.

Published Date: February 22, 2026