The exports from the country increased by 7.69 percent during the first nine months of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding months of last year.
Exports during July-March (2024-25) were recorded at $24.690 billion against $22.926 billion during July-March (2023-24), according to Pakistan Bureau of Statis- tics (PBS) data. On the other hand, imports into the country went up by 6.33 percent by growing from $40.054 billion last year to $42.589 billion during the first nine months of the current year. Based on the figures, the trade deficit during the period under review was recorded at $17.899 billion against the deficit of $17.128 billion last year, showing an increase of 4.50 percent. Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the exports in March 2025 increased by 1.95 percent to $2,617 billion from $2.567 billion in March 2024.
On the other hand, the imports came down by 2.45 percent by declining from $4.855 billion to $4.736 billion, according to PBS data. On a month-on-month basis, the exports from the country went up by 5.10 percent when compared to the exports of $2.490 billion during February 2025. The imports witnessed a decrease of 1.11 percent when compared to the imports of $4.789 billion in February 2025, PBS reported.
ONE launches Thailand Vietnam East India 2 service
Ocean Network Express (ONE) has launched the enhanced Thailand Vietnam East India 2 (TE2) service, building on the existing
SVX service.
This upgrade strengthens direct connections between Cat Lai, Laem Chabang, and East India, improving reliability and offering more competitive transit times.
With the introduction of TE2, the transportation network be- tween Southeast Asia and East India will be further expanded. According to ONE, the TE2 Service Rotation is the following: Ho Chi Minh- Laem Chabang Singapore – Port Klang – Chennai – Visakhapatnam – Port Klang – the next five years. Singapore – Ho Chi Minh
The TE2 service will begin op- erations on 20 April, with its inau- gural departure from Cat Lai.
ONE unveils Intra-Greece Express service
THE 13,000-TEU CMA CGM Iron, the French shipping giant’s first methanol-powered dual-fuel new build has been delivered reports RoOcean Network Express (ONE) has launched its Intra-Greece Ex- press (IGX) service to enhance connectivity between Thessaloniki and Piraeus.
This additional service aims to offer ONE’s customers with reliable shipping solutions.
According to the Japanese shipping company, the route for the IGX service is: Piraeus – Thessaloniki – Piraeus
The service’s estimated time of arrival is on 7 April via the M/V Corelli v006N, Piraeus.
In March, ONE and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a talent pipeline for the maritime sector.
More recently, ONE launched the enhanced Thailand Vietnam East India 2 (TE2) service, building on the existing SVX service.tterdam’s Offshore Energy
CMA CGM Iron made its maiden call at the Port of Singapore on March 4 and the Malta-flagged vessel features a length of 335 metres and a beam of 51 metres
Built by South Korea’s ship building player HD Hyundai Samho at the yard in the city of Geoje, CMA CGM Iron is the inaugural vessel in a series of 12 methanol-powered dual-fuel units that CMA CGM Group booked in February 2023 in a deal worth a staggering KRW2 52 trillion (US$2 billion).
According to the Marseille- based shipping company, the new build’s sisters vessels-named CMA CGM Cobalt, Argon, Platinum, Mercury, Helium, Krypton, Thorium, Osmium, Silver, Copper and Gold – will be handed over gradually, throughout the remain der of 2025 and in 2026
The worldwide clean fuel-powered fleet has been on a steady upward trajectory, with ammonia and methanol ships attracting more and more attention from maritime industry stakeholders.
In fact, data from the Norway- based classification society DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insights (AFI) platform showed that 2024 saw 166 methanol orders (accounting for 32 per cent of the AFI orderbook) Most of the contracts (85) in- volved container vessels
“Thanks to our long-standing collaboration with the South Korean shipyard Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, we have met the challenge of this new propulsion system. This feat of engineering brings us closer to the Net Zero Carbon goal, complementing our dual-fuel gas-powered vessels.” said CMA CGM vice president Xavier Leclercq
Slight de- cline in February's air cargo de- mand: IATA
AIR cargo registered its first year-on-year decline in February since March 2023 as a result of “extraordinary” growth a year ago, reports London’s Air Cargo News.
The latest supply and demand statistics from IATA show that air cargo demand decreased by 0.1 per cent in cargo tonne km (CTK) terms in February.
However, it wasn’t all bad news for the industry as the cargo load factor actually improved by 0.1 a year ago to 45 per cent due to a percentage points compared with 0.4 percent decline in capacity supply.
IATA said that the demand decline was the result of a spike in air cargo volumes in February last year caused by a number of factors.
“February saw a small contraction in air cargo demand, the first year-on-year decline since mid-2023,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh.
“Much of this is explained by February 2024 being extraordinary – a leap year that was also boosted by Chinese New Year traffic, sea lane closures and a boom in e-commerce.
“Rising trade tensions are, of course, a concern for air cargo. With equity markets already showing their discomfort, we urge governments to focus on dialogue over tariffs.
” IATA added that if February’s figures were adjusted for seasonality – for example, the extra day in February last year – demand would have actually increased by 3 percent for the month
On regional performance, Asia Pacific airlines registered a 5.1 per cent year-on-year increase in demand in February and capacity increased by 2.7 per cent year on year
North American carriers saw a 0.4 per cent year-on-year decrease in demand growth for air cargo in February, while capacity decreased by 3.5 per cent year on year.
There was a 0.1 per cent demand decrease for European carriers during the month and capacity decreased 0.2 per cent.
Middle Eastern airlines noted an 11.9 per cent year-on-year decrease in demand and capacity decreased by 4 per cent.
For Latin American carriers, there was a 6 per cent demand growth for air cargo in February while capacity was up 7.6 per cent year on year.
Finally, African airlines noted a demand decrease of 5.7 percent and capacity decreased by 0.6 percent
Air cargo demand February 20251ATAWillie Walshairfreight
Arkas Line enhances its West Africa service
Arkas Line has announced that it will enhance its West Africa operations by exclusively using its own fleet, boosting efficiency and expanding its regional network
After its recent expansion into India, Arkas will now operate the West Africa Service (WAS) with four vessels – Mario A, Cristina A, Jean Pierre A, and Diane A- each with a 1,600 TEU capacity.
The WAS, with weekly sailings, will offer shorter transit times and more flexible solutionsThe updated route .Tangier, – Casablanca, Dakar, Lagos (Tincan/ Apapa), Tema, Abidjan, Nouakchott, Tangier – supports Arkas Line’s sustainable growth strategy.
In January, Arkas Line strengthened its international presence by extending its route to India.
One month later, Arkas Line launched a new service, India Med Service (IMS), which will deliver cargo from the Mundra and Nheva Sheva ports to commercial centres in India’s railway connection.
Pakistan's regional exports increase 6.64%
Pakistan’s exports to the seven regional countries increased by 6.64 per cent in the first eight months of the current fiscal year (2024-25) compared to the corresponding months of last year.
The country’s exports to the regional countries including Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and the Maldives account for a small amount of $3.101 billion, which is 14.21 per cent of Pakistan’s over- all exports of $21.820 billion during July-February (2024-25), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported.
China tops the list of countries in terms of Pakistan’s exports to its neighboring, leaving behind other countries such as Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Pakistan carried out its border trade with farther neighbor Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and Maldives. Pakistan’s exports to China witnessed a decrease of 10.54 per cent from $1895.959 million last year to $1695.941 million this year whereas exports to Afghanistan surged to $592.840 million from $321.754 million.
The country’s exports to Bangladesh also increased by 26.48 per cent to $525.133 million this year from $415.167 million whereas exports to Sri Lanka rose by 4.63 per cent to $279.295 mil- lion from $266.930.
The exports to Nepal decreased to $1.693 million from $2.160 million in the previous year.
Pakistan exports to Maldives increased by 2.15 per cent to $6.127 million from $5.998 million while exports to India increased to $0.404 million from $0.230 million, it added.
On the other hand, the imports from seven regional countries were recorded at $10.462 billion during the period under review as com- pared to $8.3 16 billion during last year, showing an increase of 25.79 per cent
The imports from China during July-February 2024-25 were re- corded at $10.188 billion against the $8.094 billion during July- February 2023-24, showing an increase of 25.86 per cent.
Among other countries, imports from India increased to $157.523 million from $138.616 million whereas imports from Afghanistan also increased by 232.46 per cent from $5.477 million to $ 18.209 million.
Imports from Sri Lanka surged by 3.28 per cent from $38.655 million to $39.923 million whereas imports from Bangladesh recorded at $56.394 million from $38.771 million during last year.
The imports from Nepal into the country were recorded at $1.386 million as compared to $ 0.190 million last year, it added.
Exports of services rise to $5.46bn
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s export of services grew 6.04 per cent to $5.46 billion in the first eight months of FY25 compared to $5.15bn in the corresponding months of last year.
Telecommunication, computer and information services contributed to the growth in the current fiscal year. Services exports have seen positive growth since February 2024. However, there was a 6.50pc decline in August 2024.
In rupee terms, the exports im- proved by 3.50pc to Rs 1.519 trillion in 8MFY25 against Rs1.468tr in 8MFY24, according to statistics issued by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Friday.
In February, services exports recorded a growth of 5pc to $709.96 million as against $676.17m over the corresponding month of last year.
According to the data compiled by the State Bank of Paki- stan, the exports of telecommunications, computer, and information services reached $2.482bn in July- February of FY25 against $1.978bn a year ago, indicating a growth of 25.48pc.
The export of other business services grew 1.42pc to $1.073bn in 8MFY25 against $1.058bn over the corresponding months of last year. However, the export of transport services dipped by 6.50pc to $618m in 8MFY25 against $66 Ima year ago.
Similarly, the export of travel growth of 2.74pc to $496m com- services recorded a negative pared to $510m a year ago.
The government has an export target of $15bn for IT exports in the next five years
At the same time, the import of services increased by 32.70pc to $1.013bn in February from $763.42m over the corresponding month of last year. In July to February FY25, the import of services recorded an increase of 12.03pc to $7.709bn as against $6.881bn over the corresponding months of last year.
The increase in imports is mainly attributed to transport and travel services. The surge in trans- port payments is attributed to in- creased fares for air passengers.
The import of transport services reached $3.386bn in 8MFY25 against $3.096bn in the corresponding period last year, an in- crease of 9.36pc. Similarly, the import of travel services rose 14.77pc to $1.662bn against $1.448bn a year ago.
The import of services in- creased by 17.14pc to $10.119bn in FY24 against $8.638bn in the corresponding period last year
The trade deficit in services increased by 29.85pc to $2.250bn. in July-February FY25 compared to $1.732bn in the corresponding months last year.