Pakistan’s textile exports picked up strongly in June 2026, helped by higher shipments of garments and home textiles, although overall export growth remained modest, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
The textile group brought in $1.56 billion during the month, making it the country’s biggest export category with a 60.02 percent share of total exports. The sector posted a sharp 24.82 percent month-on-month increase from $1.25 billion recorded in May, signalling a strong recovery in export activity.
Despite the monthly improvement, the sector’s year-on-year performance remained weaker than last year, reflecting the challenges faced by Pakistan’s largest export industry.
Overall exports under the balance of payments (BOP) reached $2.6 billion in June, up 10.1 percent from May and marginally 0.16 percent higher than the $2.59 billion recorded in the same month last year.
Among textile products, knitwear remained the top foreign exchange earner with exports worth $400.37 million, followed by readymade garments at $343.64 million and bed wear at $272.08 million.
Exports of knitwear increased 7.16 percent compared with June last year, while readymade garments rose 9.59 percent and bed wear climbed 10.55 percent, highlighting continued demand for value-added textile products.
The food group retained its position as Pakistan’s second largest export category. Exports from the sector reached $443.68 million in June, rising 18.36 percent year-on-year and 22.01 percent from May.
Rice continued to dominate food exports, earning $213.67 million during the month. Shipments of the staple crop increased 28.4 percent from a year earlier and 26.07 percent on a monthly basis.
Exports of oil seeds, nuts and kernels also posted strong gains, reaching $22.19 million, more than doubling compared with the same month last year.
Other export-oriented industries also recorded healthy growth. Exports of surgical goods and medical instruments rose 4.42 percent year-on-year to $37.13 million, while leather products increased 10.33 percent to $52.07 million.
Sports goods exports reached $43.27 million, up 12.25 percent from June last year and 13.11 percent higher than May.
The chemical and pharmaceutical sector was one of the few areas to record a decline, with exports slipping 7.65 percent year-on-year to $104.71 million.
Meanwhile, exports of petroleum products surged to $104.63 million, marking a 438.44 percent increase from a year earlier. Even so, the petroleum group accounted for only 4.03 percent of Pakistan’s total exports in June.
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