Pakistan’s food export sector showcased remarkable growth, generating $5.75 billion during the first nine months of FY25, an impressive leap from $4.66 billion during the same period last year, as reported by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Sugar exports emerged as a standout performer, with shipments totaling 757,779 tons by March, surpassing the government’s initial export allowance of 150,000 tons announced in mid-2024. The data revealed consistent export activity throughout the months, peaking in December with 279,273 tons shipped, although no shipments were recorded in March.

Rice exports continued to be a key contributor to earnings despite a drop in non-basmati exports. Total rice export value fell 5.91 percent to $2.76 billion, driven by a decline in non-basmati rice, which decreased by 9.87 percent to $2.08 billion. On the other hand, basmati rice exports showed resilience, increasing 21.78 percent in quantity to 663,980 tons and 8.78 percent in value to $676.96 million. Emerging markets such as Bangladesh and sustained demand from European nations supported this growth. However, rising export demand drove local basmati rice prices up to Rs. 400 per kg, significantly higher than Rs. 150.

The performance of other food categories revealed mixed outcomes. Meat exports saw marginal growth of 0.99 percent, while fish and fish products experienced modest growth of 8.15 percent. In contrast, vegetable and fruit exports saw notable declines of 17.09 percent and 5.04 percent, respectively.