Pakistan Petroleum Imports Decline 1.26% to $7.98 Billion in First Half of FY26
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s imports of petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) group fell by 1.26% to $7,986.454 million during July–December 2025, compared to $8,088.103 million in the same period last fiscal year. Read More: https://theboardroompk.com/pakistans-digital-payments-lag-peers-despite-rapid-growth-rs11-5-trillion-is-outside-banks-and-only-15-of-bank-accounts-are-digitally-active/ The data, released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), shows a modest contraction in the overall POL import bill amid mixed trends across sub-categories. Crude and Products Rise, LNG Plunges Petroleum crude imports surged 11.21% to $2,991.883 million from $2,690.363 million previously. Petroleum products also increased by 5.05%, reaching $3,122.606 million against $2,972.480 million. In contrast, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports dropped sharply by 28.10% to $1,358.307 million from $1,889.132 million. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) saw a 4.18% decline to $513.537 million. December Shows Mixed Performance On a year-on-year basis, POL imports in December 2025 rose marginally by 0.31% to $1,570.275 million from $1,565.483 million in December 2024. Month-on-month, December imports jumped 23.99% from $1,266.419 million in November 2025. The overall POL group import reduction contrasts with broader import trends, where total imports grew significantly in the period. Economic Context The slight dip in POL spending may reflect lower LNG demand, possibly due to domestic production adjustments, pricing, or supply dynamics, though the report does not specify reasons. Higher crude and product imports indicate sustained energy needs for refining and consumption. POL remains a major component of Pakistan’s import bill, influencing the trade balance and foreign exchange reserves. The figures underscore ongoing efforts to manage energy imports amid global price volatility and domestic economic priorities.