Key points
- Annual exports will surpass previous year’s figure by end of 2025
- In markets buyers are increasingly opting for Pakistani rice
- Pakistan focused on maintaining quality
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s rice exports surged by 21.78 per cent in the first nine months of fiscal year 2024-25 (July-March), with total exports surpassing 773,000 tonnes from the previous year.
The Express Tribune cited rice exporters and commodities as saying the rice sector has turned potential disaster into opportunity. By prioritising quality and innovation over short-term price battles, it has carved out a sustainable niche in the international market. They expressed hope that by the end of FY2024-25, annual exports will surpass the previous year’s figure of 773,000 tonnes.
The newspaper quoted commodities expert Hamid Malik credits Pakistan’s resilient exporters and strategic quality-focused approach for the sector’s remarkable growth, which saw exports surge by 21.78 per cent in the first nine months (July 2024-March 2025) of FY25.
According to another local newspaper, experts credit the sector’s shift towards quality over price competition for its success in navigating the challenges brought on by India’s decision to lift its rice export ban in September 2024.
India’s decision
Following India’s decision to lift the ban and scrap its Minimum Export Price (MEP) ceiling, analysts had predicted a collapse in Pakistan’s rice exports. But rather than engage in a price war, Pakistan focused on maintaining quality and consistency, according to Profit.
As of March 2025, Pakistan holds 67 per cent of the basmati brown rice market in the EU and UK — regions known for strict quality standards — compared to India’s 33 per cent, despite Pakistani rice selling at a $100-plus per tonne premium. “Consumers in premium markets are willing to pay more for consistency and superior aroma. Pakistan’s focus on meeting these demands has built trust,” The Express Tribune cited Malik as saying.
Pakistan managed to ship 663,000 tonnes between July 2024 and March 2025, up 118,577 tonnes year-on-year, according to the newspaper. Another factor tilting the scales in Pakistan’s favour is currency performance. While the Indian rupee depreciated by 3 per cent during the season, Pakistan’s relative currency stability allowed its exporters to avoid drastic price cuts, the newspaper said. In markets buyers are increasingly opting for Pakistani rice.
