The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reports that during the first nine months of FY25, Pakistan’s raw food exports increased to $5.75 billion from $4.66 billion during the same time last year.
By March, sugar exports had surpassed the government’s June 2024 export allowance of 150,000 tons by a significant margin, reaching 757,779 tons. With no exports recorded in March, monthly data revealed consistent shipments that peaked in December at 279,273 tons.
Unlike FY25, sugar exports in FY23 were limited to 212,896 tons over a three-month period.
Rice continued to be a significant source of export revenue. Basmati rice fared well, but non-basmati rice declined, causing overall rice exports to fall 5.91 percent in value to $2.76 billion. Shipments of basmati rose 8.78% in value to $676.96 million and 21.78% in quantity to 663,980 tons. Exports of non-basmati rice fell 9.87 percent to $2.08 billion.
With ongoing demand from the UK and the EU, new rice markets like Bangladesh helped maintain growth. However, local basmati rice prices increased from Rs. 150 per kg to Rs. 400 due to the spike in export demand.
In 9MFY25, meat exports saw a little increase of 0.99 percent.
Fruit exports fell by 5.04 percent, while vegetable exports fell by 17.09 percent. Exports of fish and fish products increased by a moderate 8.15 percent over the same time period.
