Pakistan’s raw food exports have surged by 25.31% in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2026-27, primarily driven by a significant increase in rice shipments. According to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, food exports reached $1.388 billion in 1QFY27, up from $1.108 billion in the same period last year. This growth contrasts with the previous fiscal year, where food exports fell by 29.49% to $5.017 billion from $7.116 billion.
The rise in exports is largely attributed to rice, with shipments increasing by 55.89% in value. Basmati rice exports jumped 86.28% in value, while non-basmati rice saw a 39.20% increase. The government extended the rice export subsidy scheme and raised the Duty Drawback of Local Taxes and Levies (DLTL) rate for non-basmati rice to support exporters facing weaker international demand.
Other products contributing to the export growth include meat products, which grew by 21.09%, and fish products, which increased by 14.61%. However, most other food products recorded negative growth, with vegetables plunging by 20.48% and fruits by 30.62%. Tobacco exports grew by 44.21%, and spices by 18.94% during 1QFY27.
On the import side, food imports rose by 3.44% in July-September 2026-27, reaching $2.330 billion. Palm oil accounted for the largest share of imported food items, though its imports dipped by 2.30%. Pulse imports shrank by 12.07%, while the import bill for all other food items rose by 24.19%. The government has approved a plan to import wheat to address shortfalls in local production.