BEIJING, Oct 02 (APP):Pakistan’s exports to China surged in the first eight months of 2026, reaching $2.386 billion compared to $1.698 billion during the same period in 2025, according to official data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). This represents a robust year-on-year growth of 40.51%, reflecting an absolute expansion of nearly $688 million.
Commenting on the trade figures, Muhammad Imran, Trade and Investment Counsellor of Pakistan at the Consulate General in Guangzhou, said that the sharp acceleration was propelled by sustained Chinese industrial demand for Pakistani refined metals, alongside strong gains in agricultural goods and textiles. Refined copper products (unwrought) led overall export volume, jumping 68.51%, while unrefined copper anodes grew 44.14%. Agricultural commodities also recorded substantial momentum: sesame seeds climbed 86.90%, fishmeal expanded 146.95%, and rice exports, particularly broken rice, multiplied significantly.
According to China Customs, among Chinese destinations, Zhejiang Province recorded the largest absolute growth, rising by $222.47 million (up 42.46%) to $746.44 million, retaining its status as Pakistan’s top regional trade destination. It was followed by Beijing ($361.67 million, up 54.96%) and Guangdong Province ($286.07 million, up 18.19%), China Economic Net reported.
Muhammad Imran told CEN that in southern China, Guangdong remains a cornerstone for bilateral commerce. Deliveries to the province grew from $242.04 million in 2025 to $286.07 million in 2026, driven by copper anodes ($62.81 million), cotton yarn ($86.88 million), and an explosive surge in broken rice imports, which surpassed $35 million.
“Agriculture-related associations from Pakistan had visited Guangdong and other parts of China, focusing on rice, cotton, sesame seeds and other farm products, and closed deals that helped lift bilateral trade. Those business missions opened new buyers along the coast and turned earlier contacts into actual shipments in the first eight months of 2026. The Guangdong gain of about $44 million fits that picture: more cotton yarn, rice and sesame moving through South China’s trading and processing hubs after those visits,” Imran added.
Muhammad Imran, Trade and Investment Counsellor of Pakistan at the Consulate General in Guangzhou, highlighted that southern China, anchored by Guangdong’s advanced manufacturing and food processing sectors, offers tremendous opportunities for Pakistani enterprises. He noted that Pakistani exporters are effectively leveraging tariff concessions under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA Phase-II) and aligning quality standards with Chinese market requirements. Imran emphasized that expanding direct business-to-business linkages and diversifying into high-value agricultural, marine, and processed products will further consolidate Pakistan’s trade footprint across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
