Large-scale manufacturing dips 1.21% in FY 2024–25 despite May recovery

Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing (LSM) sector witnessed a 1.21% decline during the first 11 months (July 2024 to May 2025) of the ongoing fiscal year, according to fresh data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) Tuesday.

Despite the overall yearly slump, industrial output in May 2025 showed signs of recovery, recording a 7.39% increase compared to April 2025, and a 2.29% rise year-on-year.

However, several key sectors remained under pressure. The furniture industry suffered the sharpest decline, plummeting by 58.09% over the 11-month period. The machinery and equipment sector also posted a significant drop of 35.41%, while sugar production declined by 14.30%. Other lagging sectors included fabricated metal products (-15.30%), electrical equipment (-12.74%), food (-2.32%), and chemicals (-4.06%).

On the brighter side, a few sectors defied the downturn. Automobile production surged by an impressive 43.94%, making it the strongest performer during the period. The tobacco sector rose by 8.85%, coke and petroleum products increased by 4.74%, and the textile sector — a key component of Pakistan’s exports — saw a modest growth of 2.79%.