Foreign trade of Pakistan

Pakistani exports in 2005

This article covers topics relating to the foreign trade of Pakistan. For a more general overview, see economy of Pakistan.

Background

Pakistan has bilateral and multilateral trade agreements with many nations and international organizations. It is a member of the World Trade Organisation, part of the South Asian Free Trade Area agreement and the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement. Fluctuating world demand for its exports, domestic political uncertainty, and the impact of occasional droughts on its agricultural production have all contributed to variability in Pakistan's trade deficit. The trade deficit for the fiscal year 2013/14 is $7.743 billion, exports are $10.367 billion in July–November 2013 and imports are $18.110 billion.[1]

Pakistan's exports continue to be dominated by cotton textiles and apparel. Imports include petroleum and petroleum products, edible oil, chemicals, fertilizer, capital goods, industrial raw materials, and consumer products.

On 12 December 2013, the European Union granted GSP Plus status to Pakistan[2] until 2017, which enabled it to export 20% of its good with 0 tariff and 70 percent at preferential rates to the EU market. This status was given after the European Parliament passed the resolution by 406-186 votes.[3]

Exports

Pakistan's exports increased more than 100% from $7.5 billion in 1999 to stand at $18 billion in the financial year 2007-2008.[4][5]

Pakistan exports rice, kinnows, mangoes, furniture, cotton fiber, cement, tiles, marble, textiles, clothing, leather goods, sports goods (renowned for footballs/soccer balls), cutlery, surgical instruments, electrical appliances, software, carpets, rugs, ice cream, livestock meat, chicken, powdered milk, wheat, seafood (especially shrimp/prawns), vegetables, processed food items, Pakistani-assembled Suzukis (to Afghanistan and other countries), defense equipment (submarines, tanks, radars), salt, onyx, engineering goods, and many other items. Pakistan produces and exports cements to Asia and the Middle East. In August 2007, Pakistan started exporting cement to India to fill in the shortage there caused by the building boom.[6] Russia is a growing market for Pakistani exporters. In 2009/2010 the export target of Pakistan was US $20 billion.[7] As of April 2011, Pakistan's exports stand at US $25 billion.

List of trading partners

The following is a list of Pakistan's main trading partners as of 2012.

Country Percentage of imports Percentage of exports Percentage of total trade
 China 11.7 11.1 16.9
 European Union 10.4 18.2 13.0
 United Arab Emirates 12.1 8.5 10.9
 Saudi Arabia 12.2 8.5 9.0
 United States 3.2 13.6 6.7
 Kuwait 6.3 0.07 4.4
 India 3.7 2.1 3.2
 Malaysia 9 0.9 2.9
 Japan 3.6 1.6 2.9
 Iran 3.4 1.8 2.9
 Afghanistan 0.3 7.6 2.8
 Singapore 4.1 0.3 2.8

References

  1. ↑ http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/12/13/pakistan-trade-idINL4N0JA23Z20131213
  2. ↑ Lone, Mahlia S. (30 December 2013). "Pakistan to Benefit From EU Trade Status". WWD. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/pak-gets-gsp-plus-status-till-2017-for-free-access-to-eu-market-113121300203_1.html
  4. ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20080627165135/http://www.statpak.gov.pk/depts/fbs/statistics/external_trade/monthly_external_trade/met6/summary_june2007.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 27, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ "Data: Board of Investment " Economic Pakistan". Economicpakistan.wordpress.com. 2008-02-18. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  6. ↑ "Pakistan to start cement export by August end", Yahoo! News, August 3, 2007
  7. ↑ http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=66884
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