Global Rice News

Exports of agro and food products from Pakistan have witnessed a significant increase of 64 percent during the first six months of the current financial year, compared to the same period in the previous year. In particular, the month of December saw remarkable growth of 118%, with food products worth $882 million being exported as opposed to $404 million in the same month last year.

The ongoing fiscal year of 2034-24 has seen major increases in the export of various products. Sesame seed exports have surged by 278%, while maize/corn exports have grown by 208%. Ethyl alcohol exports have witnessed a staggering growth of 497%, while meat exports grew by 23%. Rice exports have also experienced a significant increase of 96%. Additionally, fruits and vegetables exports grew by 15%, spices exports by 10%, and tobacco exports by 34%.

The surge in sesame seed exports can be attributed to increased production in 2023, as the 2022 crop was destroyed by floods, coupled with higher demand and rates from countries such as China, Korea, and Japan. The increase in maize exports can be attributed to the global rise in food commodity prices following the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Major markets for maize exports include Vietnam, Malaysia, Korea, and Oman. The increase in ethyl alcohol exports can be attributed to high global demand. In the meat sector, new markets such as Jordan, Egypt, and Uzbekistan have opened up, leading to the positive growth of 23%. Furthermore, three more slaughterhouses in Pakistan have been approved for exporting and processing meat by Malaysia. Two meat exporting companies have also gained access to the Chinese market for the export of heat-treated meat.

The increase in rice exports can be attributed to the ban on rice exports from India and the heightened rice production in Pakistan. Fruits and vegetables exports have also grown due to the positive demand in international markets. Similarly, exports of spices have witnessed a growth of 10%.

Zubair Motiwalla, the Chief Executive of TDAP, expressed his satisfaction with the outstanding performance of the agro export sector. He stated that in the first six months of the ongoing fiscal year, agro exports have reached $3.84 billion, marking a 64% increase, and he expects the target of $6 billion for the current year to be achieved. Motiwalla also emphasized TDAP’s commitment to supporting exporters and providing the necessary assistance for product and market diversification.

Overall, the agro and food product exports from Pakistan have shown remarkable growth, benefitting from increased production, higher demand, and access to new markets. This positive trend is expected to continue, contributing to the country’s economic growth and development.

Source: [Nation](https://www.nation.com.pk){:target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”}