Rice exports in Pakistan increased by 21.78 % in the first nine months of the fiscal year 2024-25 (July to March), with total exports exceeding 773,000 tons of the previous year, according to the latest data.
The rice sector showed noticeable flexibility in the face of global turmoil in the market and the harsh competition, as it placed itself in standard exports despite India’s return to the rice export market.
The rice exporters and analysts mean the transformation of the sector towards quality on the price competition for its success in moving in the challenges surrounded by India’s decision to lift the ban on the export of rice in September 2024.
After India’s decision to lift the ban and cancel the minimum export price ceiling (MEP), analysts expected a collapse in rice exports in Pakistan. But instead of engaging in price war, Pakistan focused on maintaining quality and consistency.
As of March 2025, Pakistan controls 67 % of the Basmati Brown Rice market in the European Union and the United Kingdom, where quality standards are strict. Although the Pakistani rice that is sold by $ 100 per ton on India, consumers are ready to pay a higher price for a fixed quality.
However, non -Basemian rice faced more difficulties due to the limited local production, and reduced prices that risk hurting farmers ’income.
However, Pakistan is still able to export 663,000 tons of non -Pastue rice between July and March, an increase of 118,577 tons on an annual basis.
In addition, the stability of the currency in Pakistan provided a feature on a decrease in India, allowing its exporters to maintain competitive prices. For example, Basmati Rice in the United Arab Emirates and Iran, for example, has a premium of up to $ 210 per ton on competitors.
Looking at the future, Pakistan is on the right path to bypassing the Al -Basmati export record last year by the end of the fiscal year 25.
While the rice sector in Pakistan flourishes, the risks remain. The huge production capacity in India can immerse the market if prices drop, and climate change pose a long -term threat to returns.
