Machinery imports rise by11.73% in eight months

ISLAMABAD, Mar 25 (APP):Imports of the overall machinery group increased by 11.73 percent during the first eight months of the current fiscal year (July–February) compared to the corresponding period of last year.

The increased inflow of machinery is considered a positive indicator for the national economy as it supports productivity enhancement, technology transfer and infrastructure development across multiple sectors.

Experts believe that the rising imports align with the government’s ongoing policy initiatives aimed at strengthening industrial capacity, boosting exports and accelerating economic growth.

According to the official data available with APP, the total imports of the machinery group during July–February of fiscal year 2025-26 were recorded at $6.987 billion compared to $6.253 billion during the same period of the previous fiscal year.

The data revealed that imports of agricultural sector machinery and implements grew by 17.14 percent, rising from $77.528 million to $90.815 million, which is expected to help improve farm mechanization and enhance agricultural productivity.

Similarly, the imports of textile machinery surged by 25 percent from $328.510 million to $411.4411 million, supporting modernization in Pakistan’s key export-oriented textile sector and enabling manufacturers to adopt advanced production technologies.

Power-generating machinery imports also increased by 9.30 percent from $497.458 million to $543.728 million, reflecting continued investment in energy infrastructure to ensure a reliable electricity supply for industries and households.

A significant rise was recorded in imports of construction and mining machinery, which jumped by 83.28 percent from $89.307 million to $163.682 million. The increase indicates strong momentum in infrastructure development and construction activities across the country.

Likewise, imports of office machinery, including data processing equipment, witnessed a notable growth of 41.48 percent, increasing from $335.230 million to $474.285 million, highlighting the growing pace of digital transformation and automation in both public and private sectors.

Imports of other apparatus rose by 29.39 percent to $477.201 million from $368.810 million, while other machinery imports increased by 26.98 percent from $1.411 billion to $1.791 billion during the period under review.
Telecom sector imports increased by 29.54 per cent, from $1.368 billion to $1.772 billion, while mobile phone imports rose by 29.59 per cent, from $999.555 million to $1.295 billion.

However, imports of electrical machinery and apparatus declined by 18.96 percent, falling from $2.146 billion to $1.739 billion.

When evaluated on a year-on-year basis, the overall imports of the machinery group rose by 4.31 per cent, from $834.824 million to $870.799 million.

Economists believe that the growing imports of industrial machinery reflect improved investor confidence and the government’s emphasis on facilitating industrial growth, technological upgradation and sustainable economic development.