Pakistan’s petroleum exports climbed to a record $939 million in FY26, registering a 3.9% year-on-year increase from $903 million in FY25, supported by weaker domestic furnace oil (FO) demand and rising exports of low-sulphur products.
The shift in export composition was led partly by Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), a low-sulphur fuel widely used in the marine shipping industry.
The latest figure represents a substantial recovery from the lows recorded earlier in the period. Petroleum exports stood at $676 million in FY19, before dropping to $369 million in FY20 and $235 million in FY21.
Exports then increased to $415 million in FY22, although they fell again to $291 million in FY23. The sector subsequently regained momentum, with exports rising to $553 million in FY24, followed by $903 million in FY25.
With FY26 exports reaching $939 million, petroleum products have posted their strongest export performance in the recorded period, exceeding the previous high by $36 million.
The growth highlights a broader change in Pakistan’s petroleum trade, with declining local requirements for furnace oil creating room for refiners and exporters to direct more low-sulphur petroleum products toward international markets.
