Rice exports from Pakistan have seen significant growth at the end of December, 2017. This statement was given by Mr. Rafique Suleman, Senior Vice Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, while talking with news reporters.
He shared the half yearly figures of rice exports during the period of July to December 2017. He said that at the end of December 2017, rice exports for fiscal year 2017-18 (July to Dec 2017) a significant growth has been observed as compared to Last fiscal year 2016-17 (July to Dec 2016).
He said that this year we exported Total 1.9 Million Metric Tons of rice amounting to US$. 881 Million, whereas in last fiscal year we had exported 1.64 Million Metric Tons of rice amounting to US$.682 Million, which shows over all a significant growth of 29% in values and 15% in quantity.
He pleased to inform the media persons that Indonesia has also floated a tender for procurement of big quantity of rice and two Pakistani companies are also included in successful bidders. He was very much hopeful that this year, we set the target to export more than 4.0 Million Metric Tons of Pakistani rice and we will be able to achieve US$ 2 Billion mark.
He expressed his gratitude to Government of Pakistan and specially Pakistan High Commission at Nairobi for their excellent support to handle the recent issue against Pakistani rice exporters. He said that Kenya is the largest buyer of Pakistani rice and during half year of this fiscal year (July to Dec 2017) we have exported 240,000 Metric Tons of rice amounting to US$ 85 Million. He need to focus on the issues and problems and urged to rectify them and make a strategy for betterment of rice exports in future.
He also shows his concern on decline of exports in China, which was the 2nd largest destination for Pakistani rice exporters. As at the end of December 2017, only 174,000 Metric tons of rice valueing US$ 56.8 Million He requested the concerned government authorities to take serious notice and take urgent measures and steps to improve the rice exports to China.
He said that Iran and Saudi Arabia are the major buyers of Basmati Rice and we are hopeful that after resolving the Payment Problem / Banking Channel with Iran, Pakistani Basmati Rice will get a significant boast which was facing severe decline since last three years.
He informed that this year demand of rice has increased in international market and rates of Pakistani Rice are cheaper than our competitors, Thailand and Vietnam. And international buyers are keeping an eye on Pakistan for their competitive rates. We hope that this year we will see remarkable growth in Pakistani Rice Exports.
