Pakistan’s raw food exports fell by 10.25% in July 2025, breaking a 19-month streak of growth, largely due to a steep fall in rice shipments, according to official data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Rice exports, which form the backbone of Pakistan’s food trade, dropped 18.29% year-on-year. Basmati rice was hit hardest, with export quantities plunging 42.72% and value falling 39.74%. Non-basmati rice saw a marginal 0.76% decline in value but managed a 34.11% increase in quantity.
The setback comes as Pakistan faces renewed competition from India, which lifted its non-basmati export ban and removed the minimum export price in late 2024. While Pakistani exporters had benefited from India’s earlier restrictions—especially in West African markets like Benin, Ghana, and Ivory Coast—buyers are now returning to cheaper Indian rice. Still, Pakistan has retained ground in East African destinations such as Kenya and Mauritius, where demand for white rice remains strong.
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To sustain exports, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) is launching a rice roadshow in Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Senegal between August 24 and September 3, 2025, featuring 28 leading Pakistani rice exporters to showcase quality, pricing, and reliability.
Despite the drop in rice, other food sectors showed mixed trends. Meat exports grew 9.8% in July FY26, supported by demand from Gulf countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Fruit exports surged 43.63%, while fish and seafood rose 18.6%. Conversely, vegetable exports tumbled 44.95% due to weak shipments of onions, potatoes, and tomatoes.
Overall food exports in FY25 stood at $7.12 billion, down 3.44% from $7.38 billion last year. Domestically, consumers continue to face food inflation, with buffalo meat prices almost doubling over three years to Rs1,600 per kg, while chicken prices climbed from Rs500 to Rs700 per kg.
Experts warn that Pakistan must balance domestic food inflation with export competitiveness by focusing on market diversification, compliance, and value-added products to secure long-term stability in the food trade sector.
