Seafood Exports Show Solid Growth
Pakistan’s seafood sector continued to post steady gains in the first five months of the current financial year. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), fish and fish preparations worth $173.750 million were exported during July to November 2025.
In volume terms, seafood exports rose to 75,766 metric tons, compared with 75,336 metric tons in the same period last year. Export earnings increased from $162.334 million, reflecting year-on-year growth of 7.03 percent. The improvement suggests that better prices, stronger demand in key markets, or a shift towards higher value-added products may be supporting the sector’s performance.
Meat Exports Continue Upward Trend
Meat and meat preparations also recorded healthy growth. During the first five months of FY26, Pakistan exported about 47,990 metric tons of meat products valued at $215.944 million. This compares with 47,507 metric tons worth $201.586 million in the corresponding period last year.
The figures translate into a 7.12 percent increase in the value of meat exports. The steady rise reflects sustained demand from traditional Gulf and Middle Eastern markets, where Pakistani meat exporters have strengthened their presence through compliance with halal standards and improved cold-chain logistics.
Fresh Fruit Exports Post Strong Performance
Fresh fruit exports added further support to the overall food export basket. Pakistan earned $149.915 million by exporting 240,297 metric tons of fresh fruits during July to November 2025. In the same period a year earlier, the country had exported 220,574 metric tons of fruit worth $132.577 million.
The growth in both value and volume highlights the resilience of horticulture exports despite logistics and climate-related challenges. Improved quality control, better packaging and access to regional markets have helped fruit exporters capture more value from products such as kinnow, mangoes and other seasonal fruits.
Rice Exports Decline Sharply
In contrast to seafood, meat and fruit, rice exports declined sharply over the same period. Pakistan shipped 1.425 million metric tons of rice valued at $769.294 million during the first five months of the current financial year. This represents a drop of 49.24 percent in value compared to last year, when 2.377 million metric tons worth $1.515 billion were exported.
The steep fall in rice exports may be linked to lower international prices, tougher competition from other exporting countries, or the impact of domestic supply and pricing decisions. For an economy where rice has traditionally been a key foreign exchange earner, such a decline can weigh on overall export receipts and farm incomes in rice-growing regions.
Food Imports Rise, Pressuring Trade Balance
While several food export categories posted gains, Pakistan’s food import bill rose significantly. PBS figures show that food group imports increased by 28.33 percent in the first five months of the financial year, reaching $3.847 billion compared to $2.998 billion in the same period last year.
Higher food imports can reflect a mix of factors, including the need to meet domestic demand for wheat, pulses, edible oil and other essential items, as well as the impact of global price trends. However, a rising import bill also adds pressure to the current account and highlights the importance of boosting local production and value-added food exports to narrow the trade gap over time.
Balancing Export Gains with Import Pressures
Taken together, the latest data show a mixed picture for Pakistan’s food trade. On the positive side, seafood, meat and fresh fruit exports are growing at a healthy pace, pointing to the potential of fisheries, livestock and horticulture as key export drivers.
At the same time, the sharp fall in rice exports and the surge in food imports underline the challenges facing policymakers. Strengthening value chains, improving productivity and reducing supply bottlenecks will be essential if Pakistan is to build on the gains in high-performing export segments while managing vulnerabilities in others. A more balanced food trade profile would support rural incomes, ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves and contribute to more stable, sustainable growth in the years ahead.
