Pakistan Basmati Exports On The Decline

According to the recent figures released by Pakistan's agricultural ministry, the country's basmati rice exports of 316,760 MT in the first half of FY08 (July-December 2007) registered a decline of almost 15 % against 374,203 MT exported in the same period last fiscal.

Basmati exports have declined even as Pakistan's total rice exports increased by 13 % due to value addition and massive increase in rice prices in the international market.

Middle East is the major market for Pakistani basmati rice, which imports over 50 % of total basmati rice exports. The basmati variety of rice is also exported to USA and some European countries.