Good season: Rice exports cross 1.5 million tons mark

Trade increases despite disastrous summer floods.

KARACHI: Pakistani rice exports have crossed 1.5 million tons, which amounts to $0.82 billion in the current fiscal year from July to December.

However, last year during the same period, rice exports were 1.38 million tons and worth $0.63 billion, a press release of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) said on Tuesday.

Rice exports increased this year, though there had been rumours in the country that after the disastrous summer floods, rice crops had been damaged and that the country may face food shortages.

“The facts and figures are showing that Pakistan has been maintaining good export trends and we are very hopeful that the export target of rice will be achieved this year,” Reap officials said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2010.