Raza Khan

Pakistan’s exports to African countries surged by 6.77% during the first half (July-December) of the current fiscal year (2022-23), according to the Ministry of Commerce. Exports to African countries rose to $698.78 million during July-December FY23 from $654.46 million during the corresponding period of FY22.

Exports to African countries registered positive growth during the period under review despite a decline of 5.79% in the country’s overall exports. According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country’s total exports were recorded at $14.249 billion during the first half of the current fiscal year against $15.125 billion during the corresponding months of FY22.

Kenya remained Pakistan’s largest export destination in the African continent during July-December FY23 with export volume of $122 million, registering a 50% growth against the same months of FY22 when export volume was recorded at $81.39 million. Exports to South Africa were recorded at $110.14 million during the first half of FY23 compared to $98.15 million during the corresponding period of last fiscal year, with an increase of 12.21%.

Despite a decline of 20.78% in exports, Egypt remained the third- largest market for Pakistan in Africa during July-December FY23. Pakistan’s exports to Egypt were recorded at $57.22 million during the period under review against $72.23 million during the same period of last fiscal year.

Exports to Tanzania grew by 69.30% during the period under review to $40.82 million from $24.11 million during the same months of FY22. In December 2022, Pakistan’s exports to African countries were recorded at $127.71 million compared to $138.83 million during the corresponding month of 2021, with a decline of 8%.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan’s top export destinations in Africa include Kenya, South Africa, Madagascar, Tanzania, Egypt and Nigeria. Pakistan’s exports to most of its top export destinations in Africa are increasing over time, which indicates that Africa’s top economies are becoming attractive for Pakistani exports.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan’s top exports to African countries are cereals, cotton, wadding, made-up textile, sugar, confectionery, man-made staple, salt, sulphur; beverages, spirits and vinegar, pharmaceutical products, optical photographic, plastic paper and paperboard, machinery, miscellaneous chemicals and toys.

Pakistan imports tea, coffee, crude oil, iron, steel, inorganic chemicals, cotton and textile products from the African region. Kenya is largest source of tea import for Pakistan in terms of quantity as well as value. According to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade, Pakistan imported tea worth over $480 million from Kenya in 2021.

According to a study of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Africa is rich in natural and mineral resources and is called the world's storehouse of strategic raw materials. Lack of information, mutual understandings, business interactions, connectivity and people-to-people contact between Pakistan and African countries are some of the reasons behind low economic relations and trade.

According to TDAP, Africa is an untapped market for Pakistan’s exports. Products such as tractors, transmission apparatus, surgical instruments and non-basmati rice hold immense export potential. Pakistani products are in huge demand in Africa. Africa should be Pakistan’s primary focus for export market diversification.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk