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Pakistan–ASEAN trade reaches $11.5bn but deficit widens in 2025 | The Express Tribune

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Pakistan–ASEAN trade reaches .5bn but deficit widens in 2025 | The Express Tribune


Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines drive fastest import growth as Islamabad pushes for FTAs to rebalance trade


ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan’s trade volume with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) stood at $11.5 billion in 2024, a figure officials say remains below potential and requires rationalisation. Despite steady engagement, the trade deficit in 2025 continues to widen in favour of ASEAN members.

Pakistan’s exports to ASEAN were approximately $3.5 billion in 2024, while imports reached about $8 billion. Most of this trade is concentrated in five key ASEAN economies: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Islamabad is pursuing multiple trade frameworks to strengthen these ties. These include a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Malaysia, a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Indonesia, and ongoing negotiations for an FTA with Thailand and a PTA with Vietnam. The government is also pushing for technology transfer, value addition and greater ASEAN investment in Special Economic Zones under CPEC to reduce the imbalance.

Officials emphasise Pakistan’s strategic position as a bridge linking ASEAN to Central Asia, the Middle East, Western China and the Indian Ocean, with policy and infrastructure upgrades aimed at making Pakistan a competitive production base for ASEAN companies.

Pakistan’s exports to ASEAN in 2025 largely comprise textiles, such as non-knit men’s and women’s suits and knit sweaters, along with rice, seafood, house linens, leather goods, cotton and other agricultural items, including pulses and tree nuts. Textiles account for roughly 68% of exports, reflecting both concentration and market demand.

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines recorded the fastest growth in imports from Pakistan in 2025. Malaysia’s demand for textiles, rice and leather goods increased under the FTA, while Indonesia continued implementing the PTA signed in 2012. The Philippines also posted significant growth, particularly in textiles and agricultural imports. Thailand and Vietnam showed notable but slower import increases.

The broader rise in trade is driven by bilateral agreements, Pakistan’s diversification efforts and improvements in connectivity and value-added production in sectors such as information technology, textiles and food products.

FPCCI President Atif Ikram said ASEAN economies offer vast potential for engaging Pakistan’s 250-million-strong market.



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Limited flights leave UAE while disruption continues amid Iran strikes

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Limited flights leave UAE while disruption continues amid Iran strikes


From the UK, flights have also been cancelled for many Middle East destinations, including all flights to Israel and Bahrain, three-quarters of the day’s scheduled flights to the United Arab Emirates, and more than two-thirds (69%) of flights to Qatar.



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IIP sees 4.8% YoY growth in January; manufacturing & electricity support rise – The Times of India

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IIP sees 4.8% YoY growth in January; manufacturing & electricity support rise – The Times of India


For January 2026, the sector-specific indices stood at 157.2 for mining, 167.2 for manufacturing and 212.1 for electricity. (AI image)

India’s Index of Industrial Production saw a 4.8% increase year-on-year in January 2026, according to the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation. The rise in industrial output was largely driven by a 4.8 per cent expansion in manufacturing and a 5.1 per cent improvement in electricity generation. Mining activity also supported overall growth, registering a 4.3 per cent uptick during the month.Estimates placed IIP at 169.4 for January 2026, compared with 161.6 in January 2025. This follows a stronger reading in December 2025, when industrial production had grown by 7.8 per cent. For January 2026, the sector-specific indices stood at 157.2 for mining, 167.2 for manufacturing and 212.1 for electricity.Within manufacturing, 14 of the 23 industry groups at the NIC two-digit level posted year-on-year gains in January. The strongest contributors were manufacture of basic metals, which rose 13.2 per cent; manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, up 10.9 per cent; and manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products, which increased 9.9 per cent. Growth in basic metals was supported by items such as flat products of alloy steel, MS slabs, and hot-rolled coils and sheets of mild steel.The automobile category advanced on the back of higher output of auto components and spare parts, commercial vehicles, and bus and minibus bodies or chassis. In the non-metallic mineral products segment, cement of all types, cement clinkers and stone chips were key contributors.According to use-based classification, output of primary goods grew 3.1 per cent, capital goods rose 4.3 per cent and intermediate goods increased 6 per cent compared with January 2025. Infrastructure and construction goods recorded the sharpest rise at 13.7 per cent, while consumer durables expanded 6.3 per cent. In contrast, consumer non-durables declined by 2.7 per cent. The ministry identified infrastructure and construction goods, intermediate goods and primary goods as the leading drivers of growth under this classification.



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Will petrol and diesel prices go up now?

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Will petrol and diesel prices go up now?


There might also be a more direct impact on food. “Some elements of crude oil are used in fertiliser, and so there could be a cost implication in terms of food prices,” Benjamin Goodwin, partner at banking advisory firm PRISM Strategic Intelligence told the BBC.



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