ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to European countries posted a year-on-year increase of 7.44 percent in FY25, largely driven by improved demand in western and southern European markets.
According to data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan, export earnings from the European Union (EU) rose to $8.863bn in FY25, up from $8.249bn in the preceding fiscal year.
8The rebound was attributed to a modest uptick in demand for Pakistani goods- especially textiles and clothing-across western, eastern and northern Europe.
This marks a reversal from FY24, when exports to the EU had declined 3.12pc to $8.240bn despite Pakistan’s continued access to the GSP+ facility, which grants duty-free entry into most European markets.
Western Europe remains the top regional destination within with shipments increasing 8.34pc to $4.323bn in FY25 from $3.990bn in FY24.
Within this bloc, exports to Germany grew dah with 11.35pc to $1.687bn, while those to the Netherlands, Pakistan’s second-largest European market, rose 7.72pc to $1.492bn. Exports to France increased 10.82pc to $563.76m.
However, exports to Belgium fell 2.42pc to $543.43m.
Southern Europe also registered growth, albeit modest.
Exports rose 3.41pc to $3.095bn in FY25 from $2.993bn a year earlier.
Spain remained the top destination in the region, with exports inching up 2.27pc to $1.482bn.
Italy saw a marginal rise of 0.89pc to $1.132bn, while exports to Greece surged 18.64pc to $154.1 Im from $129.89m.
Northern Europe recorded a stronger performance, with exports increasing 17.73pc to $748.95m in FY25 from $636.12m the previous year.
Eastern Europe saw a 10.49pc rise in exports to $696.27m, compared to $630.14m in FY24.
Pakistan’s exports to the United Kingdom–a major trading partner before Brexit–also showed a positive trend, rising 7.19pc to $2.160bn in FY25 from $2.015bn in the corresponding period last year.
This follows a 2.33pc increase in FY24, when exports to the UK reached $2.014bn, up from $1.968bn in FY23.
Overall, the export data suggests a gradual revival in Pakistan’s trade with Europe, particularly in the textile and apparel segments, as demand strengthens across key EU economies.
CMA CGM posts stable Q2 results despite uncertainties
FRENCH shipping giant CMA CGM transported 5.97 million TEU in the second quarter, down in the second quarter of 2025, slightly down from the 5.98 million TEU, handled in the same period in 2024.
generated revenue of US$8.2 billion in the second quarter, down 1.5 percent compared to the same slightly three-month period last year.
The average revenue per TEU amounted to $1,367, a decrease of 1.2 percent compared to Q2 2024 The near stability in volumes comes in a context of a sharp but between China and the United States during the period, highlight swiftly to shifts in global trade temporary decline in trade flows between China and the United States during the period, highlighting the company’s ability to redeploy its assets to capture demand wherever it arises.
“The breadth and diversification of CMA CGM’s maritime operations, marked by a strong presence across all major global trade lanes, enable the group to adapt with agility to shifts in market conditions and customer demand,” the company said.
The Group’s revenue in the second quarter of the year amounted to US$13.166 billion, an increase of 0.3 percent from Q2’s revenue of $13,130 billion.
Rodolphe Saade, the Group’s chairman and CEO, said: “In a context marked by persistent geopolitical tensions and renewed trade uncertainties, our Group is delivering a stable performance, driven by the resilience of its maritime activities.
“These results also highlight the relevance of our diversification strategy across terminals, logistics and air freight, which enables us to offer global solutions and adjust our operations more swiftly to shifts in global trade.
“In line with our strategic direction, we continue to invest in our industrial assets, strengthen our presence in key markets, and transform our businesses through artificial intelligence and the energy transition, with the aim of providing our customers with high-quality service around the world.”
Looking ahead Mr. Saade said:
“The CMA CGM Group remains Looking ahead, Mr. Saade said: cautious in an uncertain environment, maintaining agile and efficient management of its operations with a strong focus on cost control to preserve its competitiveness.
“Indeed, uncertainties linked to the macroeconomic environment and the implementation of new customs duties remain high and could increase market volatility.
“The CMA CGM Group will continue to adapt to and anticipate market dynamics in order to seize profitable growth opportunities while limiting the risks associated with this period of instability.”
CMA CGM Phoenix is the largest US-flagged containership
FRENCH Shipping giant CMA CGM marked a major milestone with the official reflagging of the CMA CGM Phoenix under the US flag in Charleston, South Carolina.
At 9,300 TEU capacity, the CMA CGM Phoenix becomes the largest containership ever to sail under the American flag, according to Ventura, California’s gCaptain.
The Neo-Panamax vessel, previously registered in Singapore, measures 1.079 feet long and 151 feet wide, with a gross tonnage of 110,000 GT and summer dead-weight capacity of about 130,000 tonnes.
It will employ 42 American mariners working in rotation, with 21 crew members onboard at any key given time.
“Adding the CMA CGM Phoenix into the US-flagged fleet is a powerful move toward reclaiming America’s maritime strength,” said acting administrator of the maritime administration Sang Yi during the ceremony.
“This is about more than ships; it’s also about jobs, trade, and economic strength and national security for Americans.”
The vessel will also serve as a training platform for future maritime officers, hosting two cadets, per voyage from the US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and state maritime academies.
It will operate on the CMA CGM INDAMEX Service, connecting the US East Coast with Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka:
“We’re proud to be investing in the future of US maritime power,” said Adeline Franger Chouraqui, CEO of CMA CGM America.
“This milestone marks a new chapter in our long-term commitment to the United States. By expanding our US-flagged fleet, we will create new jobs, support American exports, and help strengthen the nation’s maritime capabilities for years to come.”
The CMA CGM Phoenix represents the first of four new US- flagged vessels CMA CGM will introduce in 2025, fulfilling 20 percent of its commitment to triple its US-flagged fleet to 30 ships by 2029.
This expansion is part of a broader US$20 billion investment announced by CMA CGM in March in US maritime, logistics, and port infrastructure.
With this addition, the US- flagged fleet now comprises 189 vessels, including tankers, containerships, dry bulk carriers, and vehicle carriers.
Jeddah docks eco-friendly 7,000-unit ro-ro ship
The Saudi port of Jeddah has received the LNG-powered BYD Hefei, a roll-on/roll-off car carrier capable of transporting up to 7,000 units, reported Jeddah’s Arab News.
The vessel’s arrival at the Red Sea Gateway Terminal, Saudi D Arabia’s first Build-Operate-Transfer port facility, signifies Jeddah Islamic Port’s growing capacity for next-generation maritime operations.
Operated by DP World and the Public Investment Fund, the terminal is positioned to handle modern, environmentally compliant vessels.
The BYD Hefei employs dual- fuel technology aligned with the latest emissions and energy efficiency standards. Mawani, the saudi Ports Authority, said the Arrival demonstrates the port’s readiness to accommodate a diverse range of vessels and supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 National Transport and Logistics Strategy.
Jeddah Islamic Port processes over 65 percent of the Kingdom’s seaborne imports and continues is push toward sustainable logistics amid similar regional investments in eco-friendly infrastructure across the UAE, Oman, and major ports such as Singapore and Rotterdam.
The port has expanded its services significantly in 2025.
The newly launched FRS1 by CSTAR LINE links Jeddah with Chinese ports and the Eastern Mediterranean, while CMA CGM’s LRX and MEDEX services connect the port to over a dozen regional and global destinations.
Jeddah’s busiest terminal handled 5.58 million TEU in 2024, a 12.6 per cent year-on-year increase, placing it 32nd in global rankings by container volume.
The ongoing service expansion underscores its evolving role as a regional logistics and transshipment hub.
Port of Felixstowe hosts The Premier Alliance
HONG Kong’s Hutchison Ports’ Port of Felixstowe has welcomed the first call by The Premier Alliance’s FE4 service between Asia and North Europe.
The 24,000-TEU HMM Southampton arrived at the UK’s largest container port on July 20, from Singapore via the Cape of Good Hope.
The Premier Alliance was formed in February 2025 by Ocean B Network Express (ONE), HMM (formerly Hyundai Merchant Marine) and Yang Ming.
The alliance is a five-year extension of their previous partnership and aims to deliver a reliable and flexible service with expanded global coverage.
Commenting on the new service, Clemence Cheng, executive director of Hutchison Ports and Port of Felixstowe CEO, said: “The Port of Felixstowe has long been the leading UK port for trade with Asia and we are delighted to welcome the Premier Alliance to our roster of services.
“The FE4 service adds further options for shippers through Felixstowe and Felixstowe provides the Premier Alliance with first-class facilities as well as the deepest channel and quayside facilities in the UK,” said Mr Cheng.
Peter Livey, HMM managing director (Great Britain), said: “We are proud to see the HMM Southampton inaugurate the FEA service at the Port of Felixstowe.
This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering efficient and reliable shipping solutions across Asia and Europe.
“The FE4 service enhances our UK calling capabilities by offering faster transit times and first port access at Felixstowe.
This additional call complements our existing UK port coverage and allows us to offer greater flexibility and resilience to our customers,” said Mr Livey.
Takahiro Kikuchi, managing director of Ocean Network Express (ONE)Europe said: “We are pleased to be offering a new UK port call at Felixstowe as part of our FE4 Asia-Europe service.
This service, operated in partnership with the Premier Alliance, presents new opportunities to ONE and our customers.”
Rotterdam volume down 4.1pc in first half
The Port of Rotterdam’s throughput has declined 4.1 percent to 211 million tonnes in h1 2025, with the sharpest drops in dry bulk (8.9 percent) and liquid (5.3percent)
Container throughput grew 2.7 percent in TEU to 7 million, driven by rising European consumption and increased services from Asia (+84 percent) and North America (9.1 percent).
However, in tonnage, containers fell by one percent to 66,5 million tonnes due to fewer full export containers and more empty exports a result of ongoing competitiveness challenges in European manufacturing, writes London’s Port Technology International.
to changing vessel alliances, larger options for ship call sizes, schedule disruptions, Felixstowe and operational interruptions, and ad-
Breakbulk throughput rose 1.3 percent to 16 million tonnes, supported by increases in offshore wind components and steel shipments.
Rotterdam faced significant container congestion in 2025 due to changing vessel alliances, larger call sizes, schedule disruptions, operational interruptions, and adverse weather.
Inland shipping and road transport experienced notable delays, while seaside waiting times for large ships remained limited and quay productivity improved.
Port of Barcelona HI box trade surges 10pc
THE Port of Barcelona has recorded 721,461 TEU in the first half of 2025 for full export and import containers, reflecting a 10 percent increase year on year, reports London’s Port Technology International.
Exports of full container numbers grew eight percent (365,062 TEU). The 12 percent growth in exports (356,399 TEU) was mainly concentrated in Asia.
The Port of Barcelona’s general manager highlighted that this “extraordinary growth in external trade once again shows the resilience of the economy of the Port of Barcelona’s hinterland and the excellent work done by our companies in foreign markets.”
The positive trend in external trade traffic was vital to improving the port’s economic results during the first half of 2025.
The notable increase in export and import containers made a decisive contribution to the uptick in turnover, which stood at EUR 101 million (US$117.5 million), up four percent year on year.
Liquid bulk also performed well, totalling 8.25 million tonnes and registering an increase of 22.1 percent.
This noteworthy growth is due mainly to transits and imports of gasoline and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Dry bulk movements, however, amounted to 1.82 million tonnes (-21.9 percent).
Last month, the Port of Barcelona Management Board approved four significant agreements aimed at enhancing port competitiveness, logistics development, sustainability, and the modernisation of facilities.