Pakistan Beats Vietnam in September Rice Exports
Pakistan rice exports moved ahead of Vietnam in September 2026, with shipments of about 420,000 tonnes against Vietnam’s 337,000 tonnes, according to official Vietnamese trade figures. Vietnam has long ranked as the world’s third largest rice exporter, so the gap marks a clear shift in the global rice trade.
Pakistan also earned more per tonne than its rival. Exporters fetched an average of $621 per tonne in September, compared with $563 per tonne for Vietnam. The price gap points to strong demand for Pakistan’s mix of high value aromatic Basmati and non-Basmati varieties, sold against competition from Thailand and Vietnam.
Demand for aromatic Basmati stayed firm even as war in the Gulf and disruption on sea routes pushed up costs. Total worldwide trade in Basmati held at 6.9 million tonnes, matching 2025 levels, as buyers in key markets chose to secure Pakistan and India’s signature premium grain ahead of non-aromatic varieties.
Pakistan rice exports: what the September figures show
| Measure | Pakistan | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Rice shipped in September 2026 | About 420,000 tonnes | 337,000 tonnes |
| Average price per tonne | $621 | $563 |
| First quarter export volume change | Up 51% | Not reported |
| First quarter foreign exchange earnings change | Up 37% | Not reported |
Trade figures reported in October, citing Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry executive committee member Rafiq Suleman, give a more precise picture of the same month. They put Pakistan’s exact September total at 420,277 tonnes, against 168,322 tonnes in September 2025, a rise of about 150%.
Basmati shipments almost tripled, from 35,109 tonnes a year earlier to 101,271 tonnes. Non-Basmati and other varieties rose from 133,213 tonnes to 319,005 tonnes. For the first quarter of the current financial year, from July to September 2026, total exports reached 1.075 million tonnes, up from 713,794 tonnes in the same period last year.
The September result follows an earlier milestone. Rice industry expert Hamid Malik notes that Pakistan first passed Vietnam’s monthly export volume in December 2025, the first time it had done so this millennium. September 2026 therefore reads as confirmation of a trend rather than a one month spike.
Why Basmati held firm while shipping routes shook
The result came against a difficult backdrop. Surging ocean freight rates, rising marine insurance premiums and logistical bottlenecks all added to trading costs after war broke out in the Gulf. Inland transport costs, processing expenses, delayed shipments and deferred payment cycles added further strain.
Baseline exports of general non-aromatic rice from Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan fell by 20% to 30% in this period. Basmati demand proved more resilient, which protected Pakistan’s premium segment even as cheaper grades struggled.
The sector had also come through a turbulent 2025, when free market exporters including Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan suffered large volume losses from poor weather and weak market conditions. India, by contrast, kept its dominant position through that period.
A free market sector, without support prices
Unlike state backed rivals, Pakistan’s rice supply chain runs on free market principles. There is no minimum support price for paddy purchase, no state funded marine insurance and no freight subsidy. Private millers and exporters buy paddy at prevailing market rates in a competitive environment.
That structure also means the gains flow through private firms, millers and growers rather than through a state trading body.
The start of the 2026-27 financial year gave the sector a strong base. Substantial carry over stocks, an 18% to 20% expansion in rice plantation acreage, ready urea fertiliser, accessible agricultural credit and targeted support from banks all helped. Those factors, cited by Malik, explain why volumes could rise so fast once demand returned.
What it means for Pakistan
How much rice did Pakistan export in September 2026?
Pakistan shipped about 420,000 tonnes of rice in September 2026, put precisely at 420,277 tonnes in trade figures reported in October.
How much rice did Vietnam export in the same month?
Vietnam shipped 337,000 tonnes in September 2026, according to its foreign trade agency figures.
What price did Pakistan fetch per tonne?
Pakistani exporters averaged $621 per tonne in September 2026, against $563 per tonne for Vietnam.
How much did Pakistan’s rice exports rise over a year?
Total exports in September 2026 were about 150% higher by volume than the 168,322 tonnes shipped in September 2025.
Why does the Vietnam comparison matter?
Vietnam has long been the world’s third largest rice exporter, so passing it puts Pakistan in line for the number three spot in global rice trade.
