Five months. $500 million in extra exports. The trade partnership between Pakistan and China is developing at lightning speed, and the figures speak volumes
Exports from Pakistan to China have witnessed their fastest rise ever in recent times. In the first five months of 2026, export figures reached a level of $1.55 billion, which is a rise of 48.7 percent from $1.04 billion reported in the corresponding period of last year, reveals statistics from China’s General Administration of Customs.
$507 million worth of exports generated in just five months. This is definitely not a small increase in the export figures and it shows that real growth is taking place in Pakistani-Chinese trade relations.
Copper Bears the Burden
When it comes to the real reason behind the rise in exports from Pakistan to China, one particular metal clearly takes center stage. Copper constituted the single largest source of total export value, forming 43.7 percent of all exports from Pakistan to China.
The figures speaking for the dominance are also rather remarkable. The copper exports climbed to $675 million in January-May 2026 from $393 million in the same period last year, which is an impressive 71.7 percent year-on-year growth and makes up a significant proportion of all the increases in exports in itself. In the sphere that has quietly turned into Pakistan’s most profitable economic connection with China, such results should be getting much more recognition than they usually do.
The Month of March Was the Driver of Momentum
Exports by Pakistan to China experienced the peak month of activity in March when shipments touched $361.6 million – an 84.3 percent rise from $196.2 million witnessed in March 2025.
What is more heartening about this tale of growth is the fact that it has not petered out since then. Export figures continued to grow in April and May with totals of $331 million and $286 million respectively. The significant fact here is that exports in the month of May alone surpassed the highest monthly exports figure achieved by Pakistan during the whole of 2025.
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What Areas in China Are Importing the Largest Amounts of
None of this growth in Pakistan exports to China happened in a policy vacuum. Trade officials have specifically credited the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement with playing an important role in boosting bilateral trade volumes. Approximately $2.16 billion worth of Pakistan’s exports during FY2024-25 moved under FTA preferential terms a substantial share of total exports benefiting directly from negotiated tariff advantages.
China imports from Pakistan are unevenly spread out in terms of which regions are importing the most. Zhejiang Province was once again the leading area, with imports reaching $480.7 million, an increase of 40% compared to last year. This is mainly due to the processing of copper in Zhejiang province, and the increasing copper imports from Pakistan.
The Trade Agreement Behind the Numbers
None of this growth in Pakistan exports to China happened in a policy vacuum. Trade officials have specifically credited the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement with playing an important role in boosting bilateral trade volumes. Approximately $2.16 billion worth of Pakistan’s exports during FY2024-25 moved under FTA preferential terms a substantial share of total exports benefiting directly from negotiated tariff advantages.
Beijing had its own tale of drama. The value of exports to Beijing was more than double what it was previously, growing from $101 million to $232 million, helped along by greater orders of Pakistani rice and sesame seeds by the Chinese government. Such large scale institutional buying often indicates greater stability in demand rather than opportunistic demand.
Nayab Fatima is a university graduate and an emerging media professional with a strong passion for journalism, research, and independent reporting. She specializes in developing well-researched, fact-based, and analytical news stories covering a wide range of sectors, with particular expertise in technology, telecommunications, aviation, and the automobile industry.
