Pakistan rice export touches $1.06bn

KARACHI: Rice export from Pakistan has seen significant growth and crossed dollars one billion by the end of January since July 2017 showing increase of 29 percent in value and 15 percent in quantity.

In a statement here on Friday, the Senior Vice Chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), Rafique Suleman said that Pakistan exported total 2.28 million metric tons of rice worth dollars 1.06 billion in last seven months, whereas in the same period of last fiscal year the figure was 1.971 million metric tons amounting to $.820 million.

'We have come out of the crisis. REAP members were making their untiring efforts and doing aggressive marketing to increase the rice exports and to earn valuable foreign exchange for our beloved country Pakistan,' he re-affirmed.

He was very much hopeful that this year the set target to export more than 4.0 million metric tons of Pakistani rice and would earn dollars 2 billion.

REAP had also focused on European countries. Due to the excessive pesticide residue found in Indian rice, she would loose European countries markets. It was a good opportunity for Pakistani rice exporters to grab EU market.

He also urged the government departments concerned to extend maximum support and facilitation to rice exporters for increase in their exports to European countries.

REAP leader informed that right now, demand for rice had increased around the globe. He was satisfied that this year the country had a very good crop in terms of quality and quantity. And, he continued, the prices of Pakistani rice were comparatively cheaper than that of its competitors including Thailand and Vietnam.