LAHORE: Pakistan’s rice export bounced back in the month of October after showing a dismal performance in September, which was the worst month so far in 2025.

Provisional export data from Customs PRAL & PSW shows that total rice exports during October 2025 were 371,000 tonnes against 167,325 tonnes in September 2025, a month-on-month (MoM) improvement of around 55 per cent. This data excludes exports to Iran.

In October, Basmati exports were 56,000 tonnes and other rice varieties 315,000 tonnes against 35,092 tonnes of Basmati and 132,232 tonnes of other varieties in September.

Major importers of Pakistani rice during October were Kenya 104,000 tonnes, Tanzania 32,220 tonnes, UAE 31,500, Haiti 27,200, EU/UK 25,200, China 12,500, Saudi Arabia 12,150, and Mozambique 7,800 tonnes.

Major importers of Pakistan Basmati during October remained EU, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, US, and Australia/New Zealand etc.

The main difference was made by the south zone of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan as the country exported over 100,000 tonnes of rice to Kenya alone during October.

Market watcher Hamid Malik says October rice export better performance is a silver lining for Pakistani exporters who were very dejected, confused and pessimistic about the export prospects during FY 25/26.

Non-basmati export performance by Pakistan’s south zone is remarkable as India is sitting on a huge rice stock, supported by depreciating Indian rupee, diversion of public food safety rice stocks to export and dwindling rice prices from Thailand and Vietnam, he adds.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2025