- Export earnings surpassed US$ 10 billion, rising 3.3% YoY to US$ 10.4 billion (H1 2026), per Central Bank’s External Sector Performance report
- • Merchandise exports grew 6.3% YoY to US$ 6.9 billion, offsetting a decline in services exports
- • Merchandise trade deficit widened sharply to US$ 5.5 billion (vs. US$ 3.3 billion in H1 2025) as imports outpaced export growth
Current Account
• External current account recorded a deficit of US$ 245 million in H1 2026 (vs. surplus in H1 2025)
• June alone posted a US$ 149 million deficit — third consecutive monthly deficit
Import Pressures
• Fuel import bill surged 58.8% YoY to ~US$ 3,168 million
• Motor vehicle imports totaled US$ 1,254 million
Remittances – A Bright Spot
• Workers’ remittances rose 23.2% YoY to US$ 4.6 billion (Jan–Jun)
• June remittances up 9.3% YoY to US$ 695 million
Tourism – Under Pressure
• Tourist arrivals dipped slightly to 1,146,573 (vs. 1,168,044 in H1 2025), impacted by Middle East conflict
• Tourism earnings fell 11.8% YoY to US$ 1,511 million
• June earnings down 10.8% YoY to US$ 151 million
Reserves & Currency
• Gross official reserves at US$ 6.5 billion (end-June 2026), including PBOC swap facility
• Rupee depreciated 7.8% YTD against USD (as of end-July), though pace of depreciation has moderated recently
