Pakistan’s rice exports to China recorded sharp growth in the first eight months of 2025, official data showed. According to the General Administration of Customs of China, rice exports from Pakistan rose nearly 70% compared to last year.
From January to August 2025, Pakistan exported rice worth USD 44.31 million to China. This was a significant jump from USD 26.30 million during the same period in 2024, marking a 68.5% increase. The surge highlights Pakistan’s growing presence in China’s food market and the strengthening of agricultural cooperation between the two countries.
An official from Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce explained that semi- or wholly-milled rice played a key role in the rise. Exports under this category reached USD 33.67 million in 2025, compared with just USD 5.63 million a year earlier. Broken rice also performed strongly, with exports rising to USD 7.71 million between January and August this year.
Analysts noted that the increase in rice exports reflects Pakistan’s competitiveness in terms of quality, taste, and pricing. They added that the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) and closer cooperation between Pakistani exporters and Chinese importers have further boosted this trend.
Despite the encouraging growth, challenges remain. Owais Mir, founder and CEO of Dynamic Engineering & Automation (DEA), warned that recent floods in Pakistan had caused severe damage to agriculture. This, he said, could impact rice exports in the coming months if supply chains are disrupted.
The strong performance of Pakistan’s rice exports underscores the importance of agriculture in trade relations with China. Experts believe that sustained collaboration, quality improvements, and trade facilitation could help Pakistan secure a larger share in the Chinese market in the years ahead.
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