Pakistan shipped US$32.5 billion worth of exported products around the globe in 2024. That dollar amount represents a 45.9% advance compared to $22.2 billion five years earlier in 2020.
Year over year, the value of exports from Pakistan accelerated by 12.1% starting from $29 billion in 2023.
Applying a continental lens, more than a third (36.2%) of Pakistan’s exports by value was delivered to Asian countries while 34.8% was sold to importers in Europe. Pakistan shipped another 19% worth of goods to buyers in North America.
Smaller percentages went to customers based in Africa (7.4%), Latin America (1.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (1.1%) led by Australia and New Zealand.
Pakistan’s Top Trading Partners
Below is a list showcasing 25 of Pakistan’s major trading partners, countries that imported the most Pakistani shipments by dollar value during 2024. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Pakistani exports.
- United States: US$5.6 billion (17.3% of total Pakistani exports)
- mainland China: $2.4 billion (7.3%)
- United Kingdom: $2.1 billion (6.6%)
- United Arab Emirates: $1.76 billion (5.4%)
- Germany: $1.72 billion (5.3%)
- Netherlands: $1.6 billion (4.9%)
- Afghanistan: $1.51 billion (4.7%)
- Spain: $1.47 billion (4.5%)
- Italy: $1.1 billion (3.5%)
- Bangladesh: $778.6 million (2.4%)
- Saudi Arabia: $734.9 million (2.3%)
- Belgium: $696.7 million (2.1%)
- France: $519.5 million (1.6%)
- Malaysia: $515.3 million (1.6%)
- Indonesia: $504.8 million (1.6%)
- Poland: $437 million (1.3%)
- Sri Lanka: $422 million (1.3%)
- Kenya: $421.9 million (1.3%)
- Canada: $404 million (1.2%)
- Philippines: $335.2 million (1%)
- Vietnam: $308.5 million (1%)
- Australia: $295.5 million (0.9%)
- Singapore: $289.5 million (0.9%)
- Kazakhstan: $277.8 million (0.9%)
- Denmark: $256.8 million (0.8%)
Over four-fifths (81.8%) of Pakistani exports in 2024 was delivered to the above major trade partners.
Among the listed trading partners, Singapore increased its import purchases from Pakistan at the fastest rate with via its 244.6% gain from 2023 to 2024.
In second place was Kazakhstan (up 157.3%) trailed by the Philippines (up 70.4%), Afghanistan (up 55.2%), Indonesia (up 52.7%) then Sri Lanka (up 39%).
Year over year, declines were recorded by importers of products from Pakistan in: mainland China (down -13.9% from 2023), Vietnam (down -13.6%) and Italy (down -1.9%).
Countries Causing Worst Trade Deficits for Pakistan
Pakistan recorded an overall -US$24.1 billion trade deficit during 2024. That dollar amount results from a 12.4% expansion from -$21.4 billion in red ink one year earlier in 2023.
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
Pakistan incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries:
- mainland China: -US$13.6 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2024)
- United Arab Emirates: -$3.9 billion
- Saudi Arabia: -$3.7 billion
- Qatar: -$3.6 billion
- Indonesia: -$2.8 billion
- Kuwait: -$1.8 billion
- Iran: -$1.2 billion
- Japan: -$1 billion
- Oman: -$980.2 million
- Singapore: -$913 million
Among Pakistan’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Pakistani deficits with Oman (up 89%), mainland China (up 51.1%) and Iran (up 27.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Pakistan’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Pakistan to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.
Countries Generating Biggest Trade Surpluses for Pakistan
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
Pakistan earned the highest trade surpluses with the following countries:
- United States: US$4 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2024)
- United Kingdom: $1.6 billion
- Spain: $1.33 billion
- Netherlands: $1.27 billion
- Germany: $1 billion
- Afghanistan: $854.9 million
- Italy: $805.9 million
- Bangladesh: $732.6 million
- Belgium: $469.6 million
- Sri Lanka: $368.7 million
Among Pakistan’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, Pakistani surpluses with Afghanistan (up 205.8%), Sri Lanka (up 52.8%) and Germany (up 33.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate Pakistan’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Pakistan to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Pakistan’s Major Export Companies
Two Pakistani corporations rank among Forbes Global 2000. They are:
- Oil & Gas Development (petroleum operations)
- Pakistan State Oil (petroleum operations)
Wikipedia also lists businesses headquartered in Pakistan that export their products. Selected examples are shown below.
- Dalda (vegetable oil)
- Engro Corporation (fertilizers, petrochemicals)
- Ghani Automobile Industries (motorcycles)
- Ittefaq Group (steel)
- Ittehad Chemicals Limited (chemicals)
- Khaadi (hand-woven clothing)
- Madina Sugar Mills (PVT) Limited (sugar)
- Master Motors (truck manufacturer)
- Murree Brewery (beverages)
- Servis Tyres (tire maker)
See also Pakistan’s Top 10 Exports, Pakistan’s Top 10 Imports and 100 Best Imported Consumer Products to Sell in Pakistan
Research Sources:
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on November 28, 2025
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity)
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on November 28, 2025
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on November 28, 2025
Wikipedia, List of Companies of Pakistan. Accessed on November 28, 2025
Wikipedia, Pakistan. Accessed on November 28, 2025