That dollar amount reflects a 27.1% increase since 2017 and a 59.5% boost from 2020 to 2021.
Major International Suppliers for Pakistan’s Imported Products
The latest available country-specific data shows that 73.1% of products imported by Pakistan were supplied by exporters in: mainland China (28.3% of the Pakistani total), United Arab Emirates (10.1%), Indonesia (5.8%), United States of America (5.3%), Saudi Arabia (5.2%), Qatar (3.7%), Kuwait (3.1%), Japan (3%), South Africa (2.4%), Thailand (2.3%), South Korea (2.1%) and Brazil (2%).
From a continental perspective, suppliers in Asia provide almost three-quarters (72.9%) of total Pakistani imported goods. Another 11.3% came from Europe.
Smaller percentages originated from Africa (6.3%), North America (6.2%), Latin America (2.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (1%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Given Pakistan’s population of 222.6 million people, its total $73.1 billion in 2021 imports translates to an estimated $330 in yearly product demand from every person in the South Asian country. That average amount exceeds the $220 per capita for 2020.
Pakistan’s Top 10 Imports
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Pakistan’s import purchases during 2021. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Pakistan.
- Mineral fuels including oil: US$19.4 billion (26.5% of total imports)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $6 billion (8.2%)
- Machinery including computers: $5.9 billion (8.1%)
- Iron, steel: $4.6 billion (6.3%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $3.8 billion (5.2%)
- Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $3.6 billion (4.9%)
- Vehicles: $3.3 billion (4.6%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $3.02 billion (4.1%)
- Organic chemicals: $3.01 billion (4.1%)
- Oil seeds: $1.99 billion (2.7%)
Pakistan’s top 10 imports accounted for roughly three-quarters (74.7%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Pharmaceuticals posted the fastest growth in total cost among the top 10 import categories, up by 384.6% from 2020 to 2021.
In second place for Pakistan’s expanding import purchases were vehicles thanks to a 131.2% increase.
Pakistan’s imports of mineral fuels including oil accelerated in cost by 87.6% propelled by higher charges for refined petroleum oils (both crude and refined), petroleum gases and coal.
Imported animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes resulted in a 16.1% increase.
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 2021, Pakistani importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products.
- Processed petroleum oils: US$8 billion (up 91% from 2021)
- Petroleum gases: $4.6 billion (up 86.9%)
- Crude oil: $4.2 billion (up 85.7%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $2.3 billion (up 87.6%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $68.3 million (up 18.2%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $48.1 million (up 53.5%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $39.4 million (up 28.5%)
- Electrical energy: $39 million (up 12.1%)
- Lignite: $28.2 million (up 13,412%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $12.3 million (up 27.1%)
Among these import subcategories, Pakistani purchases of lignite (up 13,412%), processed petroleum oils (up 91%) then coal including solid fuels made from coal (up 87.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
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 Electrical Product Imports
In 2021, Pakistani importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics and related products.
- Phone system devices including smartphones: US$2.7 billion (up 30.2% from 2021)
- Electric generating sets, converters: $790.8 million (up 47.6%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $556.2 million (up 52.2%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $417 million (down -12.5%)
- Electric motors, generators: $201.7 million (up 89.8%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $156.9 million (up 76.3%)
- Unrecorded sound media: $147.4 million (up 19.1%)
- Electric storage batteries: $113.9 million (up 82.1%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $100.8 million (down -4.7%)
- TV/radio/radar device parts: $96.8 million (up 67.8%)
Among these import subcategories, Pakistani purchases of electric motors and generators (up 89.8%), electric storage batteries (up 82.1%) then insulated wire or cable (up 76.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of electronics-related imports among Pakistani businesses and consumers.
Pakistan’s Main Machinery Imports Including Computers
In 2021, Pakistani importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery.
- Computers, optical readers: US$437.3 million (up 42.2% from 2021)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $429.9 million (up 66.8%)
- Vapour-based boilers: $379.6 million (up 46%)
- Textile fiber work machines: $300.8 million (up 88.6%)
- Temperature-change machines: $284.8 million (up 178.5%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $234.5 million (up 97.8%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $220 million (up 49.5%)
- Turbo-jets: $193.8 million (up 136.1%)
- Rubber/plastic article making machines: $187.4 million (up 111.9%)
- Weaving machines (loom): $186.9 million (up 159.1%)
Among these import subcategories, Pakistani purchases of temperature-change machines (up 178.5%), weaving machines or looms (up 159.1%) then turbo-jets (up 136.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
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 Iron and Steel Material Imports
In 2021, Pakistani importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of iron and steel.
- Iron or steel scrap: US$2.2 billion (up 29.8% from 2021)
- Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $981 million (up 119.2%)
- Flat-rolled other alloy steel products: $470.8 million (up 43.8%)
- Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $347.2 million (up 62.7%)
- Cold-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products: $154.7 million (up 12.6%)
- Flat-rolled stainless steel items: $152.6 million (up 21.9%)
- Coiled other alloy steel bars, rods: $79.7 million (up 54.5%)
- Iron ferroalloys: $73.4 million (up 52.2%)
- Iron ore reduced products: $53.4 million (up 183.2%)
- Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (thin): $21.7 million (down -17.9%)
Among these import subcategories, Pakistani purchases of iron ore reduced products (up 183.2%), hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (up 119.2%) then plated or coated flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (up 62.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2020 to 2021.
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 May 25, 2022
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on May 25, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 25, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 25, 2022
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Pakistan. Accessed on May 25, 2022
Wikipedia, Pakistan. Accessed on May 25, 2022
