Pakistan Rice Exports: Basmati’s $2.19 Billion Year — Slump & Rebound
Rice is Pakistan’s biggest food export — but FY2025–26 was brutal: down 33% to $2.19B. Then July 2026 brought a sharp rebound. This guide covers basmati vs coarse rice, the markets, and what moved the price.
Quick answer: Pakistan’s rice exports fell 33% to $2.19B in FY2025–26 (from $3.281B) on weak global prices. July 2026 rebounded: +$19.15% to $200M (basmati +37.37% to $76.5M). Basmati goes to the EU/Gulf; coarse rice to Africa and Asia.
The FY26 slump
Rice was the single biggest drag on Pakistan’s export basket in FY26: $3.281B → $2.19B (−33%), driving the 25% fall in agri-food exports ($7.487B → $5.58B). The cause was global, not local — soft world rice prices after strong Asian harvests, with Pakistan’s exporters cutting prices to move volume. November 2025 was the trough: rice down 56.4% YoY to $188M in a single month.
Basmati vs coarse
- Basmati: the premium long-grain — Pakistan’s GI-tagged heritage variety, grown in Punjab’s Kalar tract. July 2026: $76.5M (+37.37%).
- Coarse/other varieties: the volume game — IRRI types for Africa, the Gulf and Asia. July 2026: $123.5M (+10.1%).
Basmati earns the margin; coarse rice earns the volume. India’s basmati competes directly — the two countries’ harvests and export policies move the world price together.
Markets
Basmati: EU, UK, Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia) — diaspora and premium retail. Coarse rice: East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania), Southeast Asia, China. The Gulf’s food-security buying — including government-to-government deals — underpins the basmati trade.
The July 2026 rebound
July 2026: rice +$19.15% YoY to $200M, with basmati surging 37.37%. If the rebound holds through the new crop season, rice could recover toward $3B — critical for the agri-export total. Watch the PBS monthly releases; rice is the swing factor in Pakistan’s food export line. The full basket: major exports hub.
Rice exports: FAQs
How much rice does Pakistan export?
$2.19B in FY2025–26 (down 33%); rebounding in July 2026 (+19.15% to $200M).
What is the difference between basmati and coarse rice exports?
Basmati is the premium long-grain for the EU/Gulf; coarse varieties are the volume trade to Africa and Asia.
Why did rice exports fall in FY26?
Weak global rice prices after strong Asian harvests — not a Pakistani crop failure.
Who buys Pakistani rice?
The Gulf, EU and UK (basmati); East Africa, Southeast Asia and China (coarse).
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