Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing output falls by 0.98% in May: PBS

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing (LSM) output declined by 0.98 per cent year-on-year in May 2026, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

On a month-on-month basis, however, industrial production increased by 1.21 per cent in May compared with April 2026.

The PBS reported that overall LSM output grew by 5.77 per cent during the July-May period of the 2025-26 fiscal year compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.

The automobile sector recorded a 20.81 per cent increase in production in May, while its cumulative output surged by 58.82 per cent during the first 11 months of the fiscal year.

Sugar production rose by 23.25 per cent in May and increased by 31.54 per cent during the July-May period.

Production of petroleum products also grew by 15.75 per cent year-on-year in May, while garment production increased by 7.05 per cent compared with the previous month.

Several industries, however, recorded a decline in output. Iron and steel production fell by 12.57 per cent in May, while cement production declined by 9.36 per cent on a month-on-month basis.

Fertiliser production also decreased by 4.77 per cent during the month.

The PBS said production declined in some segments of the pharmaceutical, chemical and textile industries as well.