KARACHI: Pakistan’s exports to European countries have increased by 9.41% in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, reaching $5.921 billion, up from $5.412 billion during the same period last year.
This growth is primarily driven by higher shipments to western and southern European states.
The rise in exports is attributed to a modest increase in demand for Pakistani goods across various European regions, including western, northern, and eastern Europe. The surge in exports, especially in textile and clothing products, indicates a recovery in Pakistan’s trade with these countries.
However, despite facing a dip of 3.12% in FY24, when exports to the European Union (EU) fell to $8.240 billion from the previous year’s total, the recent increase signals positive momentum.
Pakistan’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) status, which allows duty-free access to most EU markets, continues to benefit the country’s exports, although concerns about adherence to certain conventions have not yet led to strong EU criticism.
Western Europe, which includes key markets such as Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Belgium, remains the largest destination for Pakistan’s exports to the EU. Exports to this region grew by 11.67% to $2.918 billion in the first eight months of FY25, up from $2.613 billion in FY24.
Exports to northern Europe also showed an improvement, rising by 17.73% to $498.61 million, compared to $423.51 million last year. Meanwhile, exports to southern Europe saw a modest increase of 2.69%, reaching $2.021 billion from $1.968 billion during the same period.
Within southern Europe, exports to Spain grew by just 0.87% to $973.57 million, while exports to Italy increased by 1.83% to $747.03 million. Exports to Greece saw a more notable rise, growing by 9.53% to $92.02 million.
