Basmati shipments fall 53%, Irri-6 down 22%, while imports climb to $34.5 billion in six months.

By Saddam Hussain

Pakistan’s rice exports fell sharply in the first half of fiscal year 2025–26, declining by 49.56% to $405 million compared with $804.86 million in the same period last year, according to external trade data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The decline was led by basmati rice, exports of which dropped 52.68% to $170.25 million from $359.78 million a year earlier. Exports of Irri-6 rice also fell 21.93% to $37.24 million during the July–December period.

PBS data showed that Pakistan did not export any sugar in the current fiscal year’s first half, compared with $145.85 million worth of sugar exports in the corresponding period last year. Overall food exports declined 22.06%, falling from $2.91 billion to $2.27 billion.

Textile exports also recorded a contraction, with the sector posting negative growth of 8.56% as receipts declined to $1.35 billion from $1.48 billion in the same period last year.

During December 2025, major export earners included knitwear, readymade garments, bedwear, non-basmati rice, cotton cloth, towels, made-up articles, cotton yarn, petroleum products excluding top naphtha, and meat and meat preparations.

On the import side, Pakistan imported goods worth $34.5 billion during the first six months of FY26, while exports stood at about $15 billion. The gap pushed the trade deficit up 35.52% year-on-year to over $19 billion.

Food imports rose to $4.63 billion in six months, up 21.71%, driven by higher purchases of edible oil, tea, dairy products, spices and other food items. Tea imports alone were valued at around Rs90 billion during the period.

Imports of mobile phones reached nearly $1 billion, with December phone imports at $160 million. Mobile phone accessories worth $350 million were also imported. Machinery imports rose 16% to $5 billion, while transport equipment imports stood near $2 billion.

The petroleum import bill reached $8 billion in the first half of the fiscal year, reflecting continued reliance on imported energy. Imports of agricultural inputs, including fertilisers and chemicals, totaled $5.37 billion, while metals imports reached $3.23 billion.

The data also pointed to external factors weighing on exports, including prolonged closure of trade with Afghanistan and reduced shipments to key regional markets such as China, Iran, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, adding pressure to Pakistan’s external trade position.

Published Date: January 28, 2026