Pakistan’s export performance in the food sector presented a mixed picture during the first nine months (July–March) of the current fiscal year 2025-26, with modest gains in select categories such as fruits, meat, and seafood, while rice exports witnessed a sharp decline, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Fresh fruit exports recorded a slight increase of 3.18% in value terms. The country exported approximately 486,343 metric tons of fruits worth $260.63 million during the period under review, compared to 498,363 metric tons valued at $252.65 million in the same period last year. Despite a marginal drop in export volume, higher unit prices helped lift the overall export value.
Similarly, exports of meat and meat preparations posted a growth of 3.08%. Pakistan exported over 92,080 metric tons of meat products valued at $405.99 million, up from 90,464 metric tons worth $391.12 million in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. The increase reflects steady demand in international markets, particularly from Gulf countries.
The fisheries sector also showed encouraging signs, with fish and fish product exports rising by 5.93%. During July–March FY2025-26, exports reached 151,855 metric tons valued at $342.24 million, compared to 151,528 metric tons worth $322.91 million in the same period last year. The growth indicates improved processing and export capacity within the sector.
In stark contrast, rice exports experienced a significant downturn. Shipments fell by 38.55% year-on-year, with exports totaling over 3.235 million metric tons valued at approximately $1.89 billion during the nine-month period. The decline is attributed to multiple factors, including global price fluctuations, increased competition, and domestic supply constraints.
Overall, the country’s food group exports dropped substantially to $3.80 billion during the first nine months of the current fiscal year, compared to $5.75 billion recorded in the same period last year. On a year-on-year basis, exports in March 2026 alone also declined sharply, standing at $406.01 million compared to $576.18 million in March 2025.
Meanwhile, food imports surged during the period, reaching $7.09 billion, up from $6.16 billion in the corresponding months of the previous year.
