Pakistan’s rice exports fell sharply by 68.52% between July and December last year, the Rice Exporters Association said on Tuesday. Basmati rice exports were hit the hardest, dropping by 93.21% during the same period.
The exporters’ body welcomed measures taken by the Ministry of Commerce to support the industry, including a nine percent reduction in duty on Basmati rice. Traders exporting other varieties of rice will receive a three percent duty reduction.
According to the association, the duty cuts will bring Pakistani rice prices closer to those of Indian rice, making them more competitive in international markets. The new concessions will take effect from January 23, 2026, and remain in place until June 30, 2026. The Ministry of Commerce has also issued notifications regarding duty drawbacks and other levies.
Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association, Malik Faisal, praised the government’s decision, calling it the first time in the country’s history that rice exporters have been offered such a concession. He expressed confidence that the incentives would boost exports and projected that Pakistan’s rice exports could reach 1.5 billion dollars by June 2026.
The exporters said the government’s move is expected to significantly encourage rice exports and stabilize the industry after the recent steep decline.
