That dollar amount results from a 23.3% increase compared to $45.8 billion five years earlier in 2020.
Year over year, Pakistan’s overall spending on imported goods accelerated by 12.2% from $50.3 billion during 2023.
Based on the average exchange rate for 2024 on a Purchasing Power Parity basis, the Pakistani rupee increased by 0.2% against the US dollar since 2020 from 2023 to 2024. Pakistan’s modestly stronger local currency makes Pakistani imports paid for starting from the Pakistani rupee relatively less expensive.
Major International Suppliers for Pakistan’s Imported Products
The latest available country-specific data shows that 75.1% of products imported by Pakistan was supplied by exporters in: mainland China (28.3% of the Pakistani total), United Arab Emirates (10%), Saudi Arabia (7.9%), Qatar (6.6%), Indonesia (5.9%), Kuwait (3.3%), United States of America (2.8%), Japan (2.15%), Oman (2.13%), Singapore (2.13%), Iran (also 2.13%) and Malaysia (1.7%).
From a continental perspective, suppliers located in Asia provided nearly four-fifths (79.7%) of total Pakistani imported goods. Another 8.8% came from providers in Europe.
Smaller percentages originated from sellers in Africa (5.8%), North America (3.3%), Oceania (1.3%) led by Australia, Marshall Islands and New Zealand, then Latin America (1.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
Given Pakistan’s population of 236 million people, its total $56.5 billion in 2024 imports translates to an estimated $240 in yearly product demand from every person in the South Asian country. That amount exceeds the average $220 per capita for 2023.
Pakistan’s Top 10 Imports
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Pakistan’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Pakistan.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$17.8 billion (31.5% of total imports)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $6.3 billion (11.1%)
- Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $3.2 billion (5.6%)
- Iron, steel: $3.1 billion (5.5%)
- Machinery including computers: $2.9 billion (5.1%)
- Organic chemicals: $2.5 billion (4.5%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $2.4 billion (4.3%)
- Vehicles: $1.7 billion (3%)
- Oil seeds: $1.2 billion (2.1%)
- Vegetables: $1.1 billion (1.9%)
Pakistan’s top 10 imports accounted for roughly three-quarters (74.6%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Among the top 10 import categories, the greatest increases in Pakistani spending were for imported electrical machinery and equipment (up 74.9% from 2023), vehicles (up 38.3%) then iron and steel (up 11.3%).
There was a pair of declines, namely for Pakistani purchases of imported oil seeds (down -8.9% from 2023) then animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes (down -3.3%).
Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under the product group sections below is at the more granular 4-digit level.
Pakistan’s Main Mineral Fuels Imports Including Oil
In 2024, Pakistani importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.
- Processed petroleum oils: US$6.3 billion (down -3.7% from 2023)
- Crude oil: $5.6 billion (up 16.2%)
- Petroleum gases: $5 billion (up 13.9%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $668.6 million (down -18.6%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $60.7 million (up 29.9%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $55.4 million (up 2.4%)
- Lignite: $54.8 million (down -52.3%)
- Electrical energy: $42.1 million (up 204.6%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $41.7 million (down -12%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $16.1 million (up 16.1%)
Among these import subcategories, Pakistani purchases of electrical energy (up 204.6%), high temperature distilled coal tar oils (up 29.9%) then crude oil (up 16.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related goods among Pakistani businesses and consumers.
Pakistan’s Main Electronics Imports
In 2024, Pakistani importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical machinery including consumer electronics.
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: US$2.21 billion (up 111.4% from 2023)
- Phone system devices: $2.16 billion (up 74%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $628.6 million (up 169.6%)
- Unrecorded sound media: $147.2 million (up 9.8%)
- Electric motors, generators: $116.8 million (up 37.3%)
- TV/radio/radar device parts: $109.1 million (up 8.3%)
- Electric storage batteries: $95.3 million (up 40.5%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $90.5 million (up 13%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $87 million (up 21.7%)
- Electric generating sets, converters: $79.4 million (down -1%)
Among these import subcategories, Pakistani purchases of electrical converters and power units (up 169.6%), solar power diodes and semi-conductors (up 111.4%) then phone devices including smartphones (up 74%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of machinery -related imports among Pakistani businesses and consumers.
Pakistan’s Main Imports of Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils
In 2024, Pakistani importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes.
- Palm oil: US$2.9 billion (down -0.4% from 2023)
- Soya-bean oil: $163.2 million (down -34.6%)
- Animal/vegetable hydrogenated fats, oils: $23.4 million (down -7.1%)
- Rape/colza/mustard oil: $16.8 million (down -29.3%)
- Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil: $15.1 million (down -7.7%)
- Margarine: $11.3 million (down -37.5%)
- Coconut/palm/babassu oil: $10 million (up 26.1%)
- Olive oil: $9.6 million (up 18.9%)
- Fixed vegetable fats/oils: $3 million (up 92.6%)
- Bovine fats: $2.3 million (up 17.3%)
Among these import subcategories, Pakistani purchases of fixed vegetable fats and oils (up 92.6%), coconut, palm or babassu oil (up 26.1%) then olive oil (up 18.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes among Pakistani businesses and consumers.
Pakistan’s Main Iron and Steel Material Imports
In 2024, Pakistani importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of iron and steel.
- Iron or steel scrap: US$1.2 billion (up 13.6% from 2023)
- Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $974.6 million (up 4.7%)
- Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $381.1 million (up 34.3%)
- Flat-rolled stainless steel items: $150 million (up 9.7%)
- Cold-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $76.9 million (up 22.8%)
- Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished): $50.1 million (up 217%)
- Coiled other alloy steel bars, rods: $48.5 million (down -9.3%)
- Iron ferroalloys: $45 million (down -2.5%)
- Flat-rolled other alloy steel products: $32 million (down -27.2%)
- Alloy steel bars, rods: $23.1 million (up 934.4%)
Among these import subcategories, Pakistani purchases of alloy steel bars and rods (up 934.4%), semi-finished iron or non-alloy steel products (up 217%) then plated or coated flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (up 34.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of iron and steel-related imports among Pakistani businesses and consumers.
See also Pakistan’s Top 10 Exports, India’s Top 10 Imports, India’s Top 10 Exports and 100 Best Imported Consumer Products to Sell in Pakistan
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on July 14, 2025
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on July 14, 2025
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 14, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 14, 2025
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Pakistan. Accessed on July 14, 2025
Wikipedia, Pakistan. Accessed on July 14, 2025