Pakistan’s food exports increased by 1.62 percent to reach $ 5.75 billion during the first nine months of the 2024-25 fiscal year (July – March), up from $ 5.66 billion a year earlier, according to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

Growth comes despite lasting food inflation in the domestic market, where rice and sugar exports lead the rise. Pakistan has now registered 20 consecutive months of food growth.

Among the most important contributors, Basmati rice exports saw an increase of 8.78 percent in value to $ 676.96 million along with an increase of 21.78 percent in volume to 663,980 tonnes.

In contrast, the export of non-basmati rice fell 9.87 percent in value to $ 2.08 billion despite a marginal increase of 0.14 percent in quantity to 4.02 million tonnes. Total rice exports fell 5.91 percent, a total of $ 2.76 billion in value.

Sugar exports saw an unusual jump. Originally closed to 150,000 tonnes under an export policy in June 2024, total sugar exports reached 757,779 tonnes by March, according to PBS figures.

The largest volumes were exported in December (279,273 tonnes) and November (166,283 tonnes), although no export was reported in March.

Meat exports increased 0.99 percent, supported by new market access and expansion of the Slaughterhouse capacity. Exports of seafood increased 8.15 percent, while fruit exports fell 5.04 percent and vegetable exports fell 17.09 percent due to supply limits.

The increase in rice exports was supported by demand from traditional markets such as the European Union and the UK together with new buyers in Bangladesh.

However, the domestic price of basmati rice rose sharply to Rs 400 per year. Kg, which limits local consumption.

Despite mixed trends across categories, officials consider the total export benefit as resistant under inflation pressure and tight global market conditions.

Previously, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Pakistan’s textile sector praised for a record $ 13,613 billion (about RS3.793 billion in exports in the first nine months of the current financial year – an increase of 9.38% compared to the same period last year.

According to data from PBS, this growth emphasizes the textile industry’s resilience and its continued role as the backbone of the country’s export economy.

The prime minister praised both the government’s economic policies and the tireless efforts of the private sector to drive this progress.

March 2025 alone recorded $ 2.64 billion (about RS737 billion) in total exports – a monthly and annual increase.