Pakistan's import bill for agriculture machinery jumped by 21.64% in the first half of the current financial year, signalling rising demand for farm equipment amid broader shifts in the agricultural economy.

Data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics show that machinery and implements worth $65.760m were imported between July and December 2026, compared with $54.059m during the same period last year. The increase highlights an acceleration in capital inflows tied to the farm sector.

Imports of the agriculture and other chemicals group also rose, expanding by 9.04% year-on-year. During the six-month period, purchases reached $5.373bn, up from $4.928bn in the corresponding months of the previous year.

Not all inputs recorded growth. Fertiliser imports declined by 2.62% in volume terms. The country imported 661,707 metric tonnes valued at $482.792m, compared with 719,583 metric tonnes costing $440.341m a year earlier.

In contrast, inbound shipments of insecticides climbed sharply. Pakistan spent $97.937m on 19,003 metric tonnes over the past six months, up from 12,702 metric tonnes valued at $67.365m in the same period last year. This represents a 45.38% rise in insecticide imports during the review period.

Plastic material purchases also expanded. More than 1.260m metric tonnes worth $1.448bn were brought into the country, reflecting an 8.42% increase over imports of 1.059m metric tonnes valued at $1.335bn a year earlier.

Medicinal product imports advanced as well. Shipments reached 22,750 metric tonnes valued at $737.932m, compared with 18,702 metric tonnes costing $636.087m in the corresponding period last year, marking a 15.54% increase.

The figures collectively indicate heightened import activity across agricultural machinery, chemicals and related inputs during the first half of the financial year, even as certain categories such as fertiliser recorded a modest contraction.