Crop Season Guide
Pakistan Rice Harvest Calendar
Understanding the crop cycle helps you plan purchases, negotiate pricing, and ensure you receive fresh-crop rice. Pakistan follows the Kharif (summer) cropping season.
2025/26 Crop Cycle
Month-by-Month Timeline
Pakistan rice follows the Kharif (summer monsoon) cropping pattern. The cycle runs from May planting through December harvest and January-onwards export availability.
| Phase | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery | 🌱 | 🌱 | ||||||||||
| Transplanting | 🌾 | 🌾 | 🌾 | |||||||||
| Growth | ☀️ | ☀️ | ☀️ | |||||||||
| Harvest | 🌾 | 🌾 | 🌾 | |||||||||
| Processing | ⚙️ | ⚙️ | ⚙️ | ⚙️ | ⚙️ | |||||||
| Export Window | 🚢 | 🚢 | 🚢 | 🚢 | 🚢 | 🚢 | 🚢 | 🚢 | 🚢 | 🚢 |
May - June
Nursery preparation and seedbed sowing. Farmers prepare paddies for the Kharif season. Seed selection and treatment.
June - August
Transplanting of seedlings to flooded paddies. IRRI varieties transplanted earlier (June), Basmati later (July-Aug). Monsoon rains provide irrigation.
July - September
Growth and maturation phase. Paddy requires 100-120 days from transplanting to harvest. Pesticide application and water management.
October - December
Harvest season. IRRI-6 and IRRI-9 harvested first (Oct). Basmati varieties harvested later (Nov-Dec). Paddy procurement from mandis.
Variety Timing
Basmati vs Non-Basmati Timing
| Variety | Transplant | Harvest | Processing Start | Export Ready | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRRI-6 | June | October | November | December | Sindh (Lower) |
| IRRI-9 | June - July | October - November | November | December | Sindh |
| PK386 | July | November | December | January | Punjab |
| Super Kernel | July | November | December | January | Punjab |
| 1121 Basmati | July - August | November - December | December | January - February | Punjab |
| D98 Basmati | July | November | December | January | Sindh |
Sindh (southern Pakistan) produces primarily non-basmati varieties (IRRI-6, IRRI-9) and D98 Basmati. Punjab (northern Pakistan) is the primary basmati growing region (1121, Super Kernel) and also grows PK386. Sindh harvests 2-3 weeks earlier than Punjab due to warmer climate.
Buying Guide
Best Time to Buy Pakistan Rice
Nov - Feb
Best Prices (Fresh Crop)
Fresh crop rice available at the most competitive prices. Highest supply, lowest freight rates. This is when most experienced importers place their bulk orders for the year. Check current FOB prices to compare.
Mar - Jun
Mid-Season
Prices begin to rise as crop stocks decrease. Still good availability of all grades. Consider locking in prices early in this period for delivery later in the year.
Jul - Oct
Pre-Harvest (Peak Prices)
Lowest availability. Prices at their highest before new crop arrives. Old crop stock only. If you need rice in this window, book early. New crop paddy arrives in October.
Common Questions
Harvest Calendar FAQ
Non-Basmati (IRRI-6, IRRI-9): December onwards. Basmati (1121, Super Kernel, D98): January-February onwards. Processing takes 3-4 weeks after paddy procurement.
Prices are lowest during November-February (fresh crop, high supply). They gradually increase from March through September as stocks deplete. October sees a dip as new crop paddy starts arriving.
Yes. Aged basmati (1-2 years old) is actually preferred in some markets (GCC, Middle East) as it has longer grain elongation and more aromatic flavor when cooked. We maintain aged stock of 1121 and Super Kernel year-round.
No. Pakistan grows rice only during the Kharif (summer) season. There is one crop per year. However, processing and export continue year-round from stored paddy and milled rice stock.
Planning Your Next Order?
Contact our export desk to discuss crop timing, aged stock availability, and forward booking for the 2025/26 crop.