The Islamic Republic of Pakistan imported US$45.8 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -8.7% from $50.1 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Pakistan’s main imported products categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Pakistani imports during 2020 for each of Pakistan’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for nearly two-thirds (65%) of Pakistani import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Pakistani imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Pakistan’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Pakistan amounted to $12.5 billion or 27.3% of overall Pakistani imports.

That dollar amount represents a flatlining 0.5% increase compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 83.9% of Pakistan’s imports from mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $3.5 billion
Machinery: $2.3 billion
Organic chemicals: $927.6 million
Iron and steel: $646.7 million
Plastics: $420 million
Man-made filaments: $410.3 million
Iron or steel products: $325.1 million
Vehicles: $275.5 million
Fertilizers: $271 million
Rubber: $258.2 million
Other chemical goods: $254.1 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $221.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $216.8 million
Man-made staple fibers: $188.5 million
Aluminum: $184.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Pakistani imports from China under the rubber product category via a 139.5% gain in revenue, aluminum (up 23.5%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 21%) and electronic equipment (up 10.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Pakistan’s top 15 imported products were products made from iron or steel (down -42.5%), fertilizers (down -24.8%), man-made filaments (down -18.2%) then man-made staple fibers (down -15.1%).

Pakistan’s Main Imports from the UAE

In 2020, United Arab Emirates’ exports to Pakistan amounted to $4.5 billion or 9.8% of overall Pakistani imports.

That dollar amount represents a -29.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 97.8% of Pakistan’s imports from the UAE.

Mineral fuels including oil: $3.6 billion
Iron and steel: $263.8 million
Plastics: $237.5 million
Sugar: $74.9 million
Machinery: $45.9 million
Organic chemicals: $36.1 million
Ships, boats: $33.2 million
Aluminum: $23.5 million
Other chemical goods: $22.6 million
Electronic equipment: $15.5 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $11.1 million
Rubber: $9.7 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $9.6 million
Inorganic chemicals: $8.9 million
Copper: $8.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Pakistani imports from the United Arab Emirates under the sugar product category via an 8,513% gain in revenue, ships and boats (up 353.1%), soaps, lubricants and candles (up 116.6%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 78.9%), copper (up 75.2%) then rubber (up 23.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Pakistan’s top 15 imported products were electronic equipment (down -63.7%), mineral fuels including oil (down -35.4%) and aluminum (down -27.3%).

Pakistan’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Pakistan amounted to $2.6 billion or 5.6% of overall Pakistani imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.6% of Pakistan’s imports from America.

Cotton: $552 million
Oil seed: $358.9 million
Iron and steel: $319.5 million
Machinery: $217.4 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $197.3 million
Plastics: $141.1 million
Other chemical goods: $102.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $95 million
Organic chemicals: $65 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $58.8 million
Woodpulp: $51.9 million
Pharmaceuticals: $51.6 million
Electronic equipment: $49.9 million
Vegetables: $45.6 million
Wood: $34.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Pakistani imports from the United States under the vegetables product category via a 50.8% gain in revenue, cotton (up 42.1%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 28.6%), iron and steel as materials (up 27.2%), plastics as a material (up 23.4%) then mineral fuels including oil (up 15.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Pakistan’s top 15 imported products were medical or technical equipment (down -29.5%), machinery (down -28.7%), oil seed (down -22.4%), electronic equipment (down -17.7%), miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing (down -15.6%) and wood (down -14.4%).

Pakistan’s Main Imports from Indonesia

In 2020, Indonesia’s exports to Pakistan amounted to $2.4 billion or 5.3% of overall Pakistani imports.

That dollar amount represents an 8.2% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.5% of Pakistan’s imports from Indonesia.

Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $1.6 billion
Mineral fuels including oil: $257.4 million
Man-made staple fibers: $147.4 million
Vehicles: $61.1 million
Paper: $51.8 million
Rubber: $37.7 million
Other chemical goods: $24.9 million
Plastics: $20.8 million
Pharmaceuticals: $17.4 million
Coffee, tea, spices: $16.1 million
Organic chemicals: $10.2 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $10.1 million
Machinery: $10 million
Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $9.9 million
Vegetable products: $9.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Pakistani imports from Indonesia under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via an 81.6% gain in revenue, coffee, tea and spices (up 55.5%), plastics as a material (up 19.2%), man-made staple fibers (up 18.3%), pharmaceuticals (up 17.8%) then animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 14.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Pakistan’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -65.9%), vehicles (down -45.8%), cocoa including cocoa preparations (down -22.9%) and paper (down -18.4%).

Pakistan’s Main Imports from Saudi Arabia

In 2020, Saudi Arabia’s exports to Pakistan amounted to $1.9 billion or 4.1% of overall Pakistani imports.

That dollar amount represents a -22.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.1% of Pakistan’s imports from Saudi Arabia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $892.5 million
Plastics: $563.1 million
Organic chemicals: $316.8 million
Fertilizers: $36.6 million
Other chemical goods: $22.4 million
Aluminum: $17 million
Raw hides excluding furskins: $5.1 million
Ships, boats: $4.9 million
Sugar: $4.7 million
Cereal, milk preparations:$3 million
Iron and steel: $2.5 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $2 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $1.9 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $1.9 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $1.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Pakistani imports from Saudi Arabia under the fertilizers product category via a 28,473% gain in revenue, sugar (up 15,463%), aluminum (up 239.1%), ships and boats (up 150.1%), salt, sulphur, stone and cement (up 67.5%) then soaps, lubricants and candles (up 40.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Pakistan’s top 15 imported products were raw hides excluding furskins (down -41.4%), mineral fuels including oil (down -39.4%) then food waste and animal fodder (down -37.2%).

Pakistan’s Main Imports from Qatar

In 2020, Qatar’s exports to Pakistan amounted to $1.5 billion or 3.2% of overall Pakistani imports.

That dollar amount represents a -32.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.99% of Pakistan’s imports from Qatar.

Mineral fuels including oil: $1.3 billion
Plastics: $94.6 million
Other chemical goods: $35.1 million
Organic chemicals: $7.6 million
Rubber: $2.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $235,000
Inorganic chemicals: $207,000
Aluminum: $196,000
Raw hides excluding furskins: $193,000
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $111,000
Food waste, animal fodder: $95,000
Machinery: $76,000
Lead: $65,000
Other textiles, worn clothing: $48,000
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $32,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Pakistani imports from Qatar under the organic chemicals product category via a 281.5% gain in revenue, raw hides excluding furskins (up 67.8%), rubber (up 57.6%) then miscellaneous chemical goods (up 43.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Pakistan’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -91.5%), aluminum (down -50.9%), mineral fuels including oil (down -34.5%), miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing (down -17.2%) then soaps, lubricants and candles (down -16.5%).

Pakistan’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Pakistan amounted to $1.1 billion or 2.5% of overall Pakistani imports.

That dollar amount represents a -16.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 95.6% of Pakistan’s imports from Japan.

Vehicles: $393.1 million
Iron and steel: $225.1 million
Machinery: $186.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $47.5 million
Electronic equipment: $34.4 million
Organic chemicals: $28.4 million
Ships, boats: $26.7 million
Paper: $24.6 million
Plastics: $23.9 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $22.7 million
Man-made staple fibers: $19.6 million
Rubber: $17.9 million
Iron or steel products: $16.4 million
Other chemical goods: $10.7 million
Man-made filaments: $9.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Pakistani imports from Japan under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 438.6% gain in revenue, iron and steel as materials (up 26.2%) then miscellaneous chemical goods (up 20.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Pakistan’s top 15 imported products were ships and boats (down -57.7%), man-made filaments (down -49.7%), electronic equipment (down -41.4%), products made from iron or steel (down -32.6%), machinery (down -25.9%) then vehicles (down -24.8%).

Pakistan’s Main Imports from Kuwait

In 2020, Kuwait’s exports to Pakistan amounted to $1.1 billion or 2.5% of overall Pakistani imports.

That dollar amount represents a -10.6% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.98% of Pakistan’s imports from Kuwait.

Mineral fuels including oil: $831.9 million
Organic chemicals: $144.8 million
Plastics: $88.3 million
Iron and steel: $52.9 million
Aluminum: $1 million
Glass: $611,000
Iron or steel products: $524,000
Woodpulp: $364,000
Inorganic chemicals: $260,000
Copper: $248,000
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $215,000
Ores, slag, ash: $199,000
Raw hides excluding furskins: $134,000
Electronic equipment: $84,000
Furniture, lighting, signs: $62,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Pakistani imports from Kuwait under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 1,094% gain in revenue, products made from iron or steel (up 693.9%), plastics as a material (up 125.4%), iron and steel as materials (up 37.1%) then woodpulp (up 15.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Pakistan’s top 15 imported products were raw hides excluding furskins (down -65.9%), organic chemicals (down -35.2%), copper (down -33.2%), electronic equipment (down -32.8%) and glass (down -18.3%).

Pakistan’s Main Imports from Malaysia

In 2020, Malaysia’s exports to Pakistan amounted to $1.1 billion or 2.4% of overall Pakistani imports.

That dollar amount represents a 13.5% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.3% of Pakistan’s imports from Malaysia.

Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $511.3 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $121.9 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $56.1 million
Machinery: $48.7 million
Plastics: $37 million
Other chemical goods: $36.7 million
Organic chemicals: $34.7 million
Rubber: $25.6 million
Iron and steel: $21.3 million
Wood: $18.2 million
Felt, yarn, twine, cordage: $15.8 million
Ships, boats: $14.2 million
Man-made filaments: $14.2 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $12.6 million
Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $12.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Pakistani imports from Malaysia under the ships and boats product category via a 734% gain in revenue, cereal or milk preparations (up 85.4%), iron and steel as materials (up 44.2%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 38.4%), rubber (up 21%) then felt, yarn, twine and cordage (up 20.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Pakistan’s top 15 imported products were man-made filaments:(down -31%), organic chemicals (down -26.7%) and wood (down -26%).

Pakistan’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Pakistan amounted to $1.1 billion or 2.3% of overall Pakistani imports.

That dollar amount represents a 36.9% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 92.5% of Pakistan’s imports from South Korea.

Vehicles: $269.1 million
Iron and steel: $148.8 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $146.2 million
Plastics: $94.2 million
Machinery: $55 million
Organic chemicals: $50.5 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $46.6 million
Ships, boats: $32.6 million
Other chemical goods: $31 million
Pharmaceuticals: $22.8 million
Zinc: $18.7 million
Inorganic chemicals: $17.5 million
Rubber: $17.1 million
Electronic equipment: $16.6 million
Man-made staple fibers: $15.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Pakistani imports from South Korea under the vehicles product category via a 361.4% gain in revenue, mineral fuels including oil (up 78.1%), inorganic chemicals (up 64.5%), iron and steel as materials (up 59.1%), tanning or dyeing extracts (up 30.8%) then miscellaneous chemical goods (up 22.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Pakistan’s top 15 imported products were machinery (down -34.4%), electronic equipment (down -29.6%), zinc (down -27.6%) then organic chemicals (down -15.1%).

References

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Pakistan, Borders of Pakistan.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Pakistan’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries