By Azeem Ahmed Khan

Pakistan’s food group exports during July–February FY2025-26 declined by 34.38% to $3.39 billion, compared to $5.17 billion in the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.

A commodity-wise breakdown of the latest eight-month export data, however, shows mixed trends across segments, with some value-added and non-traditional exports recording growth.

Rice, the country’s leading food export, remained the dominant contributor despite a significant decline. Total rice exports fell by 39.91% in value terms, with quantities also decreasing by 32.81%. Within this category, basmati rice showed relative stability, recording a comparatively smaller decline of 8.48% in value, while its unit price increased by 5.70%, indicating sustained demand for premium varieties.

Among other segments, fish and fish preparations posted a 9.70% increase in export value, supported by growth in both quantity and unit price. Similarly, fruit exports rose by 6.25% in value, with quantities increasing by 1.85% and unit prices improving by 4.32%.

Vegetable exports recorded a mixed performance, with unit value increasing by 1.58% despite a decline in overall export volume. The spices segment also showed resilience, with export quantities increasing by 12.28%, while export value declined marginally by 1.61%.

Meat and meat preparations also performed positively, with export value rising by 9.30% and quantities increasing by 5.63%. The unit value also improved by 3.48%, reflecting stronger demand in international markets.

On the other hand, some traditional export items recorded sharp declines. Sugar exports remained absent during the period, while oil seeds, nuts and kernels exports fell by 53.92% in value. Tobacco exports also declined by 22.06%.

Overall, the data shows that while food exports recorded a significant decline during the period, performance varied across commodities, with some segments posting gains alongside notable contractions in key traditional exports.

Credit: INP-WealthPk