A new report reveals a monthly uptick in petroleum imports as domestic gas production sees a significant boost.

Pakistan experienced a notable shift in its energy landscape during March 2026. Data shows a 4% monthly increase in the volume of imported petroleum, oil, and lubricants.

Total imports for the month reached approximately 1.34 million metric tonnes. This figure remains largely consistent with the volumes recorded during the same period last year.

However, the broader fiscal year shows a more pronounced upward trend. For the first nine months of FY26, cumulative imports hit 13.28 million metric tonnes.

This represents a 6% growth compared to the previous year’s tally of 12.49 million. The data suggests a steady appetite for energy despite fluctuating global market conditions.

Motor gasoline continues to be the primary driver of these import figures. In March, it accounted for a staggering 82% of all petroleum product imports.

This high percentage mirrors the demand levels seen in March 2025. It highlights the transport sector’s unwavering reliance on fuel even as retail prices remain high.

While gasoline demand stayed strong, crude oil imports faced a different trajectory. These imports dropped by 9% on a month-on-month basis, falling to 765,263 metric tonnes.

Despite this monthly dip, the nine-month cumulative figure for crude is quite impressive. It sits 17% higher than the previous year, totaling 7.84 million metric tonnes.

Experts believe this indicates a more robust and active refinery cycle across the country. Local facilities are processing more raw material to meet domestic needs.

High-speed diesel witnessed a dramatic recovery during the month of March. Import volumes surged by 153% following a very weak performance in February.

The total volume for diesel reached 104,689 metric tonnes for the month. This sharp rebound points to a normalization of industrial and heavy transport activities.

Another interesting shift occurred within the refinery feedstock mix. The share of imported crude fell from 79% in February to 74% in March.

This change was driven by a 7% increase in local crude oil production. Domestic output reached an average of 64,915 barrels per day during the month.

The most striking data point from the March report involves the natural gas sector. Domestic gas supply surged by 12% to reach 3,055 mmcfd.

This surge allowed local gas to claim 94% of the total national gas mix. Consequently, the reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (RLNG) plummeted.

RLNG volumes dropped by a massive 75% on a monthly basis. Only 201 mmcfd of imported gas was utilized during this specific period.

However, the year-to-date average for RLNG remains stable at 23%. This suggests that the March spike in local supply may be a seasonal or specific event.

On the export front, Pakistan saw a 20% increase in total energy shipments. Total exports for March were recorded at 149,057 tonnes.

This growth was fueled entirely by the export of furnace oil. Other products like naphtha and crude condensate were notably absent from the export list.

While monthly furnace oil exports were lower than last year, the fiscal year total is up. Cumulative exports for the nine-month period have grown by 6% year-on-year.

The energy sector remains a complex pillar of the national economy. These figures reflect a balancing act between local production and international procurement.