Rice exports to Malaysia grow 244%

Pakistan exported 148,000 MT of rice to the country last year.

ISLAMABAD: High Commissioner of Pakis­tan to Malaysia Masood Khalid has said that Pakistan is looking to export more rice to Malaysia. Malaysia has emerged as one of the choice destinations for Pakistani rice exporters, as reflected in the 244% increase in rice export to the country during the last two years.

In an interview with the Malaysian Bernama News Agency, Masood Khalid said the Pakistani rice exports to Malaysia, including Basmati and non-Basmati rice, had been on an upward trend over the last three years. He noted that rice exports had grown from 43,000 metric tons (MT) in 2009 to 123,000 MT in 2010, registering an increase of 186%.

“I am happy to report that exports have further gone up to 148,000 MT last year, growing by 20.3%,” he said.

However, he said Pakistan was looking to export more rice to Malaysia and negotiations were in progress with Malaysia’s Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas), which is responsible for procurement and processing of paddy, as well as importation, warehousing, distribution and marketing of rice in Malaysia.

“We are engaging with Bernas on a regular basis. Bernas has, so far, led two teams to Pakistan to seal contracts with Pakistani exporters in the wake of floods in Thailand and Vietnam,” he said; adding that Bernas will be planning a visit to Pakistan again, in the near future, to explore the possibility of further rice imports from Pakistan.

“With the high demand and consumption of rice among Malaysians, Pakistan could boost its exports; surpassing its 148,000 MT rice exports last year,” he said.

He said the Pakistan government was also working with the Rice Exporters’ Association of Pakistan (REAP) to persuade its members to export more rice to Malaysia.

Asked whether Pakistan has any specific target for rice exports to Malaysia this year and onwards, he noted that Malaysia’s annual import of rice is around one million MT.

He said that considering the exportable surplus after catering for Pakistan’s domestic consumption, which is around 2.5 million MT, Pakistan is actually ready to export more rice to Malaysia, subject to the Malaysian government’s approval.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2012.