Pakistan has managed to export around 2.9 million MT of rice in the current fiscal year decreasing from 3.3 million MT over the same period last year, even as possible water shortage has raised concern for the new crop.

Pakistan produced about 6.3 million MT of rice from the 2008-09 crop versus 5.5 million MT the previous year, and was hoping to export up to 4 million MT in the year ended on June 30 but exports suffered from November to January following a government decision to buy rice from traders and enter the export market itself, which drove up the price of rice and ultimately hurt exports.

Rice accounts for about 8 % of Pakistan’s exports and 12 % of its gross domestic product.