ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s raw food exports surged 25.31 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, compared with the same period last year, driven largely by higher rice shipments.

According to data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, imports of raw food items rose by just 3.44pc in July-September 2026-27, indicating a slowdown.

In absolute terms, food exports reached $1.388 billion in 1QFY27, up from $1.108bn in the corresponding period last year. This increase is mainly driven by higher rice export value.

In FY26, exports of raw food products fell 29.49pc to $5.017bn from $7.116bn in the preceding fiscal year.

Rice shipments drive growth to $1.39bn; imports grow just 3.44pc

Food imports reached $2.330bn in 1QFY27, up from $2.252bn over the last year.

The government has already approved a plan to import wheat to plug shortfalls in local production. In FY26, the food import bill surged 11.66pc to $9.150bn, up from $8.195bn in the preceding fiscal year.

Other products that contribute to the rise in exports include fish products, tobacco, oilseeds and meat products. The government has also allowed the export of 200,000 tonnes of sugar in the current fiscal year.

Product-wise data show that rice exports surged 55.89pc in 1QFY27. Exports of basmati rice, however, jumped 86.28pc and non-basmati by 39.20pc in value. The increase was also noted in quantity for both basmati (80.21pc) and non-basmati (43.55pc), respectively.

The Ministry of Commerce extended the rice export subsidy scheme by another three months, until Sept 30, and raised the Duty Drawback of Local Taxes and Levies (DLTL) rate for non-basmati rice to support exporters facing weaker international demand.

Similarly, meat exports grew by 21.09pc in 1QFY27 on a YoY basis. Fish product exports grew by 14.61pc. Most other food products recorded negative growth. Vegetables registered the steepest fall, plunging by 20.48pc, and fruits by 30.62pc.

Tobacco exports grew by 44.21pc, and spices by 18.94pc during 1QFY27.

On the import side, palm oil accounted for the largest share of imported food items, followed by pulses, tea, and soyabean oil.

Palm oil imports dipped 2.30pc in 1QFY27. In terms of quantity, palm oil dipped 13.75pc.

Pulse imports shrank by 12.07pc in July-September. Soyabean oil imports remained negligible.

The import bill for all other food items rose 24.19pc, tea 25.54pc and milk products 2.80pc in 1QFY27.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2026