KARACHI: Rice exports from Pakistan have witnessed a sizeable growth of 27 per cent in February 2018, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Senior Vice Chairman Rafique Suleman, told reporters here on Friday.
He shared the figures on rice exports for the period of July to February 2018. He said that this year Pakistan exported a total 2.59 million metric tonnes of rice amounting to $1.224 billion, whereas in the same period of the last fiscal year Pakistan exported 2.27 million metric tonnes of rice amounting to $0.961 million, which shows a significant growth of 27 per cent in terms values and a 14 per cent growth in terms of quantity.
He expressed his pleasure over the improvement in the value of rice exports, which has been made possible by REAP Office Bearers in coordination with Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Customs.
REAP members are putting untiring efforts to increase the rice exports and to earn valuable foreign exchange for Pakistan.He informed that last month REAP had organised “International Buyers Recognition Awards” in Dubai, which resulted in rice exports to UAE showing good growth.
In the eight months of the current fiscal year, Pakistan has exported more than 100,000 metric tonnes of rice amounting to $67 million. Kenya is the largest buyer of Pakistani non-basmati rice and during July 2017 to February 2018, Pakistan exported 323,000 metric tonnes of rice amounting to $118 million.
He also said that China is the second largest destination for Pakistani non-Basmati rice. In February 2018, Pakistan exported 233,000 metric tonnes of rice valuing $83 million. He expressed his gratitude to Ministry of Commerce and the government for obtaining more benefits for Pakistani rice in the recent negotiations during the second round of Pakistan-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
