Pakistan’s food export sector has posted modest yet resilient growth amid persistent domestic inflation, rising by 1.62% to $5.75 billion in the first nine months of the fiscal year 2024–25 (July–March), up from $5.66 billion during the same period last year, according to recent data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
This marks 20 consecutive months of food export growth, underscoring the sector’s ability to weather global and domestic economic pressures.
Basmati and Sugar Lead the Way
Among the standout performers was basmati rice, which saw an 8.78% increase in value, reaching $676.96 million, with a 21.78% jump in volume to 663,980 tonnes. The growth was fueled by steady demand from traditional buyers in the EU, UK, and Bangladesh.
In contrast, non-basmati rice exports declined 9.87% in value, down to $2.08 billion, despite a minor increase in quantity. As a result, overall rice exports fell 5.91%, totaling $2.76 billion.
The real surprise came from sugar exports, which exceeded expectations despite initial policy restrictions. Originally capped at 150,000 tonnes under a June 2024 policy, sugar exports soared to 757,779 tonnes by March. Major export months included December (279,273 tonnes) and November (166,283 tonnes). No exports were recorded in March, indicating a possible seasonal or regulatory pause.
Mixed Trends in Other Categories
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Meat exports rose 0.99%, benefiting from expanded slaughterhouse capacity and new market access.
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Fish and seafood exports increased 8.15%, continuing their steady upward trend.
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Fruit exports declined 5.04%, and vegetable exports dropped 17.09%, primarily due to domestic supply constraints and inflation.
Notably, the domestic price of basmati rice has surged to Rs 400 per kg, potentially limiting affordability and consumption within Pakistan.
Broader Export Outlook Remains Positive
Despite mixed results across food categories, officials consider the overall export performance a success story in the face of global inflationary pressures and volatile commodity markets.
On a broader economic note, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also lauded Pakistan’s textile sector for achieving record-breaking exports of $13.613 billion in the same nine-month period — a 9.38% increase year-over-year. In March 2025 alone, Pakistan recorded $2.64 billion in total exports, signaling strong momentum across multiple sectors.
Final Thoughts
While challenges like inflation, supply constraints, and market volatility persist, the steady growth in Pakistan’s food export sector — particularly in basmati rice, sugar, and seafood — offers a promising outlook. If policies remain supportive and market access continues to expand, Pakistan may continue its upward export trajectory into the final quarter of FY 2024–25.
