Pakistan’s exports to China exceeded $1.55 billion in the first five months of 2026, marking a robust 48.7 percent year-on-year increase compared with $1.04 billion recorded in the same period of 2025, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC). The surge, equivalent to an additional $507 million in just five months, represents one of the strongest bilateral trade performances in recent years.
Copper and Rice Drive Export Growth
As per GACC data, copper products remained the dominant driver, accounting for 43.7 percent of total export value at $675 million, up from $393 million a year earlier—a rise of 71.7 percent. March 2026 was the standout month, with exports reaching $361.6 million, an 84.3 percent jump over March 2025’s $196.2 million, driven by accelerated copper shipments and the opening of the rice export season. April and May sustained strong momentum at $331 million and $286 million respectively, with May 2026 still comfortably above the best month of 2025.
Zhejiang Leads as Top Destination
Zhejiang Province remained China’s leading destination for Pakistani goods, absorbing $480.7 million, up 40 percent year-on-year, owing to its role as the country’s principal copper-processing hub. Beijing registered the sharpest provincial rise, jumping from $101 million to $232 million as state procurement agencies increased purchases of Pakistani rice and sesame seeds. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region also emerged as a notable new corridor, with imports tripling to $53 million, reflecting growing land-route trade through the Gwadar–Xinjiang CPEC network.
CPFTA Phase III Negotiations Underway
Official sources point to the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) as a key structural enabler, with $2.16 billion of Pakistan’s full-year 2024-25 exports flowing under FTA preferences. Negotiations for CPFTA Phase III, covering approximately 700 additional tariff lines, are currently ongoing and expected to further expand Pakistan’s access in cereals, halal meat, processed textiles, and mineral products categories where Pakistan holds significant untapped potential.
Pakistan Exports 2,000 Buffalo Embryos to China
Pakistan exported 2,000 buffalo embryos to Royal Cell Biotechnology (Guangxi), China, last week in connection with a material transfer agreement between the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Pakistan and China’s Royal Group. Previously, Pakistan had exported 10,000 embryos valued at $2 million to China in phases. As per future plans, Royal Cell Biotechnology Pakistan program manager Dr. Qaiser Shahzad declared that China intends to import at least 300,000 buffalo embryos from Pakistan. Given the growing demand for buffalo milk in China and the popularity of Pakistani buffaloes for their milk quality and production volume, China intends to further enhance Pakistan’s superior buffalo breed through its advanced technology, he explained. Royal Group is the only listed buffalo milk processing company in China. According to Derk Qin, Director of the Overseas Business Department, Royal Cell Biotechnology (Guangxi) Co. Ltd, the sales volume of buffalo milk in China is about RMB 5 billion, Gwadar Pro reported on Monday.
