Freight Rates Pakistan to Southeast Asia: FCL Shipping and Transit Times
Pakistan sold US$1.4bn of goods to Southeast Asia in FY2025-26, and the fastest direct sailing from Karachi reaches Singapore in under 9 days. Malaysia and Indonesia both have preferential trade deals with Pakistan. Get live prices, schedules and export clearance on one booking.
- Exports to ASEAN
- US$1.42bn
- FY2025-26, SBP receipts
- Exports to Singapore
- US$471m
- FY2025-26, up 54%
- Fastest FCL sailing
- From 9 days
- Karachi to Singapore, direct
- Trade agreements in force
- 2 deals
- Malaysia (MPCEPA) and Indonesia
Trade Snapshot: Pakistan → Southeast Asia
State Bank of Pakistan export receipts by country, fiscal year July to June (receipts are counted differently from customs data). Calendar 2025 values are UN Comtrade.
- US$1.42bn
- Exports to ASEAN, FY2025-26
- Down 26% from US$1.92bn. ASEAN was 4.6% of Pakistan's export receipts, against 5.9% a year earlier.
- US$470.6m
- Exports to Singapore, FY2025-26
- The top market, up 54.3%. Singapore may include payments for cargo re-exported onward.
- US$246.8m
- Exports to Malaysia, FY2025-26
- Down 50%. On the Comtrade customs basis, Malaysia was the largest market in 2025 at US$348m.
- US$3.8bn
- Palm oil imports, FY2025-26
- The reverse flow: a record 3.48 million tonnes, mostly from Indonesia and Malaysia, keeps westbound space tight.
Top shipping lines
Top shipping lines on Pakistan → Southeast Asia
Lines with published services on this lane. Select one to track a container with them.
Country context
Origin and destination country snapshot
Port activity and top partner mix from official trade and port statistics.
Pakistan
FY2025-26- Rice exports
- US$2.29bn
- All markets, down from US$3.35bn
- Seafood exports
- US$568m
- A record, all markets
- Kinnow export outlook
- 400,000 t+
- 2025-26 season, 400-450k t expected
Where Pakistan's ASEAN exports go (FY2025-26)
- Singapore 33.2%
- Malaysia 17.4%
- Thailand 16.9%
- Vietnam 15.1%
- Philippines 7.4%
- Indonesia 6.8%
State Bank of Pakistan export receipts by country; shares computed against the ASEAN-10 total of US$1,416m.
Southeast Asia
2024- Pakistan-ASEAN trade
- US$11.5bn
- 2024, about US$3.5bn exports and US$8bn imports
- Indonesia-Pakistan trade
- US$4.1bn
- 2024, up 24%
- Kinnow to Indonesia
- US$17.1m
- 2024, 11% of Indonesia's mandarin market
What Malaysia buys from Pakistan (2025, share of US$348m)
- Rice and cereals (HS 10) 38.4%
- Mineral fuels (HS 27) 9.8%
- Vegetables (HS 07) 7.8%
- Made-up textiles (HS 63) 6.7%
- Fish (HS 03) 6.2%
Pakistan Business Council and Tribune for the 2024 bilateral totals (the ASEAN export figure of US$3.5bn is much higher than the SBP sum and its basis is unclear); ANTARA; TDAP kinnow report; UN Comtrade via Trading Economics for Malaysia.
Top Commodities Traded (Pakistan → Southeast Asia)
UN Comtrade (Pakistan as reporter), calendar 2025, via Trading Economics; TDAP and press reports for kinnow and rice.
Rice & Cereals
The top line to Malaysia at US$134m in 2025, plus US$26m to the Philippines and US$20m to Indonesia. Pakistan was reported as Malaysia's third-largest rice supplier. In September 2026 the two countries agreed to boost rice exports.
Fish & Seafood
Thailand took US$114m in 2025, the biggest single seafood line on the lane, and seafood is about a third of Pakistan's exports to Thailand. Malaysia and Vietnam also buy Pakistani fish.
Kinnow & Citrus
Indonesia bought US$17m of kinnow in 2024, and the Philippines is a key market. The 2025-26 season began shipping on 1 December 2025 against a US$110m target; high freight costs held back volumes.
Cotton, Apparel & Made-ups
Cotton to Vietnam (US$48m) and Indonesia (US$12m), made-up textiles to Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, and apparel to Malaysia and Singapore. Textiles are about 68% of exports to ASEAN by one estimate.
Hides, Leather & Tobacco
Hides and leather to Vietnam (US$28m) and Indonesia (US$13m); tobacco to Indonesia (US$18m) and the Philippines (US$19m).
Beverages & Pharmaceuticals
The Philippines took US$18m of beverages, spirits and vinegar and US$24m of pharmaceuticals in 2025, alongside pharmaceutical sales to Vietnam and Thailand.
Major Ports & Transit Benchmarks
Benchmarks are published schedule ranges; confirm the ETA on the live sailing before you book.
- Origins
- Karachi (SAPT, KICT, KGTL) • Port Qasim (QICT)
- Destinations
- Singapore • Port Klang • Tanjung Pelepas • Jakarta • Ho Chi Minh City • Laem Chabang • Manila
- Carriers
- OOCL • COSCO • CMA CGM • ONE • TS Lines • Wan Hai • RCL • Yang Ming
Singapore, Tanjung Pelepas and Port Klang remain the region's transshipment hubs, so many Pakistan cargoes bound for Jakarta, Surabaya, Manila or Haiphong connect there. Direct Southeast Asia to Karachi services are reported from Laem Chabang, Singapore and Port Klang. Rotations were mostly taken from press coverage because carrier schedule pages blocked automated access, so they are subject to change.
Instant Rate Levels
Selected
Karachi → Singapore • 20' Standard
Direct • From 9 days
Live all-in price on request
Ocean freight, BAF and local charges quoted against this week's carrier tariffs for your exact cargo. We don't print a sample range here because it would be stale before you read it.
Quick Compare
- Transit
- From 9 days
- Service
- Direct
What moves the price on Pakistan → Southeast Asia
- trending_upReefer versus dry: kinnow and seafood need reefer plugs, which price very differently from dry rice or textile boxes.
- trending_upWestbound imbalance: Pakistan imported a record US$3.8bn of palm oil in FY2025-26, so eastbound boxes often return empty and pricing is influenced by repositioning.
- trending_upHarvest timing: the kinnow season runs from December to April (TDAP), with the peak in December and early January, and rice follows crop and export-policy shifts, so booking early matters in season.
- trending_upTransshipment hub: Singapore, Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas connections price differently, and a direct Karachi to Singapore call avoids a second handling.
Popular port pairs
Pakistan → Southeast Asia
Quick-launch rate requests for the main port pairs on this lane.
Why Choose Maalbardaar for Pakistan → Southeast Asia?
Licensed customs clearance • Live tracking • One team at both ends of the paperwork
Direct and Hub Options
Direct Singapore, Port Klang and Laem Chabang calls, plus hub connections to Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, compared on every booking.
MPCEPA & Indonesia Origin Docs
Form MPCEPA certificates for Malaysia and Indonesia trade-deal paperwork prepared before the vessel sails, so your buyer gets the preferential duty.
Reefer & Halal Cargo
Reefers for kinnow and seafood, with phytosanitary and halal certification lined up ahead of the cut-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does sea freight take from Karachi to Singapore?
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The fastest scheduled direct sailing takes about 9 days, with departures every one to two days across ten or more carriers. Sailings to Port Klang, Laem Chabang and hub-connected ports such as Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City vary by service, so we confirm the current schedule at booking.
Does Indonesia's halal certification rule apply to my Pakistani food exports?
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Probably. Indonesia's halal authority BPJPH says the next phase of mandatory halal certification begins on 18 October 2026 and covers imported products, including food and beverages and slaughter products. Check with your Indonesian buyer which category your product falls in before shipping.
Is there a free trade agreement with Malaysia?
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Yes. The Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA) has been in force since 1 January 2008. To claim the preferential duty, goods need a Form MPCEPA certificate of origin and must meet the rule of 40% qualifying value content or a change in tariff classification.
Do Pakistani goods get tariff preferences in Indonesia?
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Yes. The Indonesia-Pakistan Trade in Goods Agreement has been in force since 2013 and was amended in 2018, and Indonesia lifted its quota on Pakistani kinnow in January 2018. The two countries agreed in December 2025 to upgrade the deal into a CEPA, targeted for 2027.
Is there an FTA with Thailand or Vietnam?
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Not in force. Thailand-Pakistan negotiations began in 2015 and haven't concluded. Vietnam-Pakistan preferential trade agreement negotiations were launched in October 2025. Don't assume a preferential duty for either market without checking the importer's customs authority.
Which Southeast Asian country buys the most from Pakistan?
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By State Bank export receipts for FY2025-26, Singapore leads at US$470.6m, followed by Malaysia (US$246.8m) and Thailand (US$239.5m). On the customs-based Comtrade figures for calendar 2025, Malaysia leads at US$348m. The two measures differ, so treat the ranking as approximate.
What does Pakistan export to Southeast Asia?
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Rice to Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, seafood to Thailand, cotton and hides to Vietnam, tobacco and beverages to the Philippines and Indonesia, textiles across the region, and kinnow to Indonesia and the Philippines. Rice exports overall fell 32% in value in FY2025-26.
Is there a direct sailing from Karachi to Southeast Asia?
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Yes. Direct services from Karachi to Singapore run every one to two days across many carriers, and OOCL's SIS, reported to start in April 2026, calls Laem Chabang, Singapore and Port Klang on its Karachi rotation. Confirm the current rotation at booking, because carriers have restructured Pakistan calls since 2025.
Still have questions?
For assistance, please visit our Contact Us page. Our team clears and forwards cargo on this lane every week.
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Shipping Pakistan → Southeast Asia?
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Figures on this page come from official trade statistics and carrier-published schedules, checked September 2026. Transit times are schedule ranges and vary by sailing; trade values are reported in US dollars for the period stated beside each figure. Maalbardaar is not affiliated with the shipping lines named here.