New data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reveals a notable uptick in the country’s energy spending, with petroleum group imports rising by more than 13% during the first three quarters of the current fiscal year.
According to the official figures, Pakistan spent approximately $13.55 billion on petroleum products between July and March, compared to roughly $11.97 billion during the same period the previous year. This reflects a significant increase in the national import bill as energy demand fluctuates.
Key Statistical Breakdown
The PBS report highlights several critical shifts in the import landscape:
- Petroleum Products: Imports in this category saw a value increase of nearly 12.5%, totaling over $5.4 billion.
- Crude Oil: Spending on raw petroleum reached approximately $4.27 billion, marking a 14.7% rise compared to the previous year.
- Natural Gas (LNG): Liquefied Natural Gas imports grew by 17.5%, with the total cost reaching $3.12 billion.
- LPG: Liquefied Petroleum Gas also saw a modest rise of around 2.6%, totaling $556 million.
Monthly Trends
On a month-on-month basis, the trend remains upward. In March 2026, petroleum imports climbed by 5.5% compared to February, reaching a monthly total of $1.64 billion. When compared to March of the previous year, the increase is even more pronounced, showing a jump of over 37%.
Wider Trade Context
While energy costs rose, the broader trade picture showed mixed results. Pakistan’s total exports for the nine-month period increased by 9% to $23 billion. However, because imports grew at a faster rate—rising by 13.5% to exceed $44.5 billion—the overall trade deficit widened to $21.5 billion, representing an 18.7% increase compared to the previous fiscal year.
