Pakistan’s rice exports during the first two months of the current financial year were recorded at 545,403 metric tonnes. This is lower than the 616,744 metric tonnes exported during the same period last year.
During July-August 2025, the country earned rice worth $314.388 million, compared to $464.66 million in the same period of the previous year. This reflects a negative growth of 32.34 percent, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Basmati rice exports totaled 101,934 metric tonnes, generating rice worth $107.294 million. This is significantly lower than the 186,673 metric tonnes valued at $192.609 million exported last year. Non-Basmati rice exports, however, increased slightly in quantity to 443,469 metric tonnes but generated rice worth $207.094 million, down from $272.057 million in the previous year.
The overall food group exports during the period under review fell by 23.46 percent. Food commodities worth $774.557 million were exported compared to $1.011 billion during the same period last year. In contrast, food imports rose by 36.73 percent, totaling $1.469 billion compared to $1.074 billion last year.
Analysts said the decline in rice exports is due to lower international demand and increased competition in global markets. Basmati rice, which traditionally earns higher foreign exchange, saw a notable drop in both quantity and value.
Despite the decline, Pakistan remains one of the top rice-exporting countries. Officials are emphasizing the need for improved quality, competitive pricing, and better marketing strategies to increase future earnings from rice exports.
The government continues to support the rice sector through incentives and export facilitation measures, aiming to reverse the downward trend and boost foreign exchange earnings.
In other news read more about: Pakistan’s Rice Exports Decline Amidst Challenges in International Market
