Pakistan’s Basmati rice exports plunged to just 43,895 tons in April 2025, marking the lowest monthly volume recorded in the current fiscal year (July 2024–April 2025), according to figures released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
This significant downturn followed a period of robust growth earlier in the year, highlighted by a record 100,780 tons exported in February 2025—an impressive feat considering the month’s shorter duration.
Despite the sharp April decline, cumulative Basmati exports for the first ten months of FY2025 reached 707,875 tons, representing a 15 percent increase over the 612,126 tons shipped during the same period in FY2024.
In contrast, non-Basmati rice exports experienced a marginal decline, falling to 4,390,333 tons from 4,474,855 tons in the prior fiscal year. Industry experts attributed the dip to intensified competition from India, which continues to undercut Pakistani rice in key African markets with lower-priced offerings, potentially leading to a 3–4 percent annual decrease.
Total rice exports during the July–April period remained virtually unchanged at 5.08 million tons, underscoring a mixed performance across categories.
Trade disruptions further complicated matters in late April, as protests by Sindh nationalist groups on the Indus Highway—centered on demands for equitable water distribution—led to multi-day blockades. These protests significantly hindered truck traffic and caused logistical bottlenecks at Karachi Port. Although the situation has since de-escalated, exporters remain concerned about the potential for further interruptions, particularly in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions with India that threaten Pakistan’s image as a dependable rice exporter.
