Pakistan’s crude oil imports climbed to an all-time high of US$ 964 million in April 2026, marking the highest monthly import value ever recorded and reflecting the impact of elevated international oil prices on the country’s energy bill.
The surge pushed the overall petroleum group import bill to US$ 1.8 billion, the sixth-highest monthly level on record, despite Pakistan importing no liquefied natural gas during the month.
Data compiled by Topline Research from State Bank of Pakistan figures shows that April’s crude oil import bill was nearly double the country’s long-term monthly average and significantly higher than the levels recorded during previous import spikes.
The latest figure surpassed earlier peaks seen during commodity rallies in 2008, 2013 and 2022, highlighting the scale of the recent jump in energy costs.
The sharp increase is particularly notable because it was driven primarily by crude oil. Historically, Pakistan’s monthly crude oil imports have generally fluctuated between US$ 200 million and US$ 600 million.
While previous cycles occasionally produced spikes above US$ 600 million, April’s US$ 964 million figure stands out as a clear outlier, creating a steep upward break in a trend that stretches back nearly two decades.
The record import bill comes at a time when global oil markets remain volatile due to geopolitical tensions and supply concerns. Higher international crude prices increase Pakistan’s import costs even when import volumes remain relatively stable.
As a net energy importer, Pakistan remains highly exposed to movements in global commodity markets, particularly developments in the Middle East, from where a large portion of its crude supplies originate.
An important aspect of the April data is that the petroleum import bill reached US$1.8 billion despite zero LNG imports. In previous years, LNG cargoes have often contributed substantially to Pakistan’s monthly energy import bill.
The absence of LNG imports indicates that crude oil and petroleum products were the primary drivers behind the elevated import expenditure.
