Key Points
- Pakistan and Iran agree to boost bilateral agriculture trade to $3 billion within two years
- Pakistan’s rice production in 2024 stood at around 9.8–9.9 million tons.
- Rice exports reached 6.0–6.4 million tons in 2024, valued at about $3.9 billion.
- Indonesia was the largest importer of Pakistani rice in 2024
ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain has announced that Iran will import 300,000 tons of rice from Pakistan, marking a boost for the country’s agricultural exports.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday, he said the prime minister has set an ambitious export target of 100 billion rupees to strengthen the national economy.
The minister added that Bangladesh has also expressed interest in importing Pakistani rice, calling it a positive sign for expanding regional trade.
Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasised that increasing per-acre crop yield through research and innovation is critical, noting that higher agricultural exports would help reduce Pakistan’s current account deficit.
In August this year, Pakistan and Iran had decided to boost bilateral agricultural trade to $3 billion within two years. The two countries signed a joint communique at the end of the visit of a high-level ministerial delegation of Pakistan, led by Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, to Tehran.
Pakistan’s rice production has been reported at around 9.8–9.9 million tons in 2024, one of the highest outputs in recent years.
In 2024, Pakistan exported roughly 6.0 – 6.4 million tons of rice, valued at around $3.9 billion, marking record export performance for the agricultural sector.
Rice has become one of Pakistan’s leading export commodities, contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings and agricultural growth.
According to recent trade figures from the World Integrated Trade Solution, Indonesia emerged as the largest importer of Pakistani rice in 2024, purchasing approximately 714,577 tons, followed by Afghanistan with about 611,292 tons.
Kenya imported around 438,945 tons, while Malaysia accounted for roughly 410,594 tons of Pakistan’s rice exports. Saudi Arabia also remained a key market, importing an estimated 223,724 tons. Other notable destinations included the Philippines, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, and Côte d’Ivoire, highlighting the wide global reach of Pakistan’s rice exports.
