Rice in Pakistan's export basket
Rice brought in 9.0% of Pakistan's US$3.04 billion exports in September 2026. Cereals (chapter 10) were the fourth-largest export chapter, behind only made-up textiles, knitwear and woven clothing. The rice was shipped by 279 exporters on 2,364 shipping bills. Full detail is on the rice export page.
Basmati vs non-basmati: volume vs value
| Type | Value | Tonnes | Avg $/tonne | Top market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basmati | $124.1m | 107,374 | $1,156 | UAE (38.8%) |
| Non-basmati (milled) | $117.6m | 246,028 | $478 | Philippines (39.2%) |
| Brown (husked) | $17.4m | 18,159 | $956 | UK (24.9%) |
| Broken | $14.1m | 42,225 | $333 | China (66.4%) |
Basmati sold for about 2.4 times the price per tonne of non-basmati rice. Average prices here are the declared export value divided by declared weight.
Top markets for Pakistani basmati
The Gulf and Central Asia dominate. The UAE took $48.2m (38.8%), Kazakhstan $25.3m (20.4%) and Saudi Arabia $15.0m (12.1%). Next came Italy ($7.0m), Oman ($5.6m), the United States ($2.9m), Germany ($2.0m), the UK ($1.6m), France ($1.5m) and Australia ($1.3m).
One detail stands out for logistics. 19.9% of basmati by value ($24.7m) left Pakistan by road through Gabd on the Iran border, almost exactly matching Kazakhstan's $25.3m. That suggests basmati for Kazakhstan travels overland through Iran rather than by sea.
Top markets for non-basmati rice
The Philippines bought $46.1m (39.2%) of Pakistan's non-basmati rice. Africa is the other big outlet. Madagascar ($15.5m), Kenya ($9.3m), Tanzania ($3.8m), Côte d'Ivoire ($3.7m), Somalia ($2.9m) and Benin ($1.8m) together took 31.5%. The UAE ($8.0m), Saudi Arabia ($6.1m) and Malaysia ($2.9m) complete the top ten. Counting all rice types, Mozambique took a further $12.3m.
Brown and broken rice
Brown rice goes almost entirely to Europe: the UK (24.9%), Italy (24.3%), the Netherlands (19.2%), Spain (10.4%), Poland (7.4%) and Denmark (4.4%). Broken rice is mainly a China trade: China took 66.4% ($9.3m), followed by the Philippines (14.0%).
Three-month view: September exports jumped 73%
| Jul | Aug | Sep | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All rice | $163.2m | $158.0m | $273.1m |
| Basmati | $59.5m | $65.1m | $124.1m |
| Non-basmati | $85.1m | $64.9m | $117.6m |
| Basmati price per tonne | $1,104 | $1,302 | $1,156 |
| Non-basmati price per tonne | $454 | $505 | $478 |
Rice exports were flat in July and August, then rose 72.9% in September. Basmati almost doubled (+90.6% on August) on volume rather than price: basmati tonnage more than doubled while the average price fell back from August's $1,302 per tonne. The UAE was the largest basmati buyer in all three months, and shipments to Kazakhstan rose from $7.9m in July to $25.3m in September.
Which ports does rice leave from?
- Basmati: Karachi 63.1%, Gabd (Iran border) 19.9%, Port Qasim 16.6%
- Non-basmati: Port Qasim 50.5%, Karachi 48.4%
- Brown: Port Qasim 76.2%, Karachi 23.8%
- Broken: Karachi 85.1%, Port Qasim 14.8%
Overall, Pakistan's biggest rice buyers in September were the UAE ($56.4m, 20.6%), the Philippines ($48.1m, 17.6%) and Kazakhstan ($26.5m, 9.7%).
Frequently asked questions
What is the PCT code for basmati rice exports from Pakistan?
Basmati rice is exported under PCT 1006.3010. Other milled rice is 1006.3090, brown rice 1006.2000 and broken rice 1006.4000.
Which country buys the most rice from Pakistan?
In September 2026 the UAE was the largest buyer of Pakistani rice ($56.4m, 20.6%), followed by the Philippines (17.6%) and Kazakhstan (9.7%).
What is the export price of Pakistani basmati rice?
In September 2026 basmati was exported at an average of about US$1,156 per tonne, against US$478 per tonne for non-basmati milled rice.
How much rice does Pakistan export per month?
About 414,000 tonnes worth US$273.1 million in September 2026, 9.0% of Pakistan's total exports that month.
Source: Pakistan Customs records for September 2026, aggregated by PakTradeStats. Figures based on fewer than three traders are withheld. See our methodology.