Pakistan's medicine exports fell to $319.01 million in FY26. That is the lowest level in three years. The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) shared this data. Exports dropped 30% compared to last year.
In FY25, medicine exports stood at $457.45 million. That year saw 34% growth, the best in 20 years. FY26 reversed that gain.
Why Exports Fell
Two main reasons caused the drop.
Afghanistan border closure. Pakistan closed its land border with Afghanistan in October 2025. This stopped the sale of Pakistani medicines there. Former PPMA chairman Tauqeer Ul Haq said this single factor cut pharma exports by 30%. Afghanistan bought 42% of Pakistan's medicine exports in FY25.
Haq said exports could have grown 20-25% this year. That would have topped FY25 numbers. This could have happened if trade with Afghanistan had continued without interruption.
Rising oil prices. The US-Iran conflict pushed oil prices up. This raised shipping costs for exporters. Some markets became too costly to serve. A few manufacturers stopped shipping to low-profit markets. They were losing money on each shipment.
Trouble in the Middle East also delayed shipments. This affected both land and air routes to some markets.
The Bigger Picture
Pakistan's total exports of therapeutic goods also fell. This category includes medicines, surgical goods, food supplements, and medical devices. It dropped from $990 million in FY25 to $771 million in FY26.
Pakistan's overall exports, across all sectors, fell 6% to $30.13 billion in FY26.
