Pakistan’s POL import bill rose 6.50 percent in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the federal body that compiles official trade figures. Total petroleum group imports in July–September stood at $4,020.371 million, compared with $3,775.034 million in the same months a year earlier—an increase of about $245 million in dollar outflows for the group.
PBS released the quarterly comparison from Islamabad on 26 October. The figures cover the full petroleum group, which includes crude oil, refined petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and a small residual category.
Crude, products and LPG drive the rise
Within the group, demand for imported crude and fuels was clearly higher in dollar terms. Imports of petroleum crude increased 23.10 percent, from $1,428.318 million to $1,758.192 million. Petroleum products rose 11.58 percent, from $1,395.647 million to $1,557.223 million. LPG imports grew 21.83 percent, from $235.218 million to $286.559 million.
A minor line for other petroleum group products also edged up 4.82 percent, from $0.058 million to $0.061 million. Together, these categories more than offset the sharp drop in one major item: LNG.
LNG purchases fall sharply
LNG imports declined 41.56 percent over the same July–September window, from $715.793 million last year to $418.337 million this year. That reduction cut the group’s dollar bill, but not enough to reverse the overall rise once crude, products and LPG are included.
The quarterly POL import bill therefore reflects a mixed energy-import picture: heavier spending on oil and LPG, lighter spending on LNG, and a net increase of 6.50 percent for the petroleum group as a whole.
September: higher than last year, lower than August
On a year-on-year basis, petroleum group imports in September 2026 were $1,269.585 million, up 2.70 percent from $1,236.198 million in September 2025. On a month-on-month basis, however, September’s bill fell 13.87 percent from $1,474.054 million in August 2026.
PBS did not, in these figures, break out pump prices, retail LPG rates, or the reasons behind the LNG decline. The data show only the dollar value of imports by category and the percentage changes against the previous year and the previous month.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan ne pehli teen mahine (July se September) mein petroleum ki imports par pichhle saal se zyada dollars kharch kiye. POL import bill 6.5 percent barh kar lagbhag 4.02 billion dollars ho gaya. Petrol, diesel waghera aur crude zyada mehnga import hua, lekin LNG ki import kam hui. Is se mulk ke foreign exchange kharche par asar parta hai, jo aakhir mein energy ke kharch se juda hota hai.
