Pakistan recorded steady growth in fish and meat exports during the first five months of the current financial year, reflecting improved overseas demand for key food products.
Fish and fish preparation exports rose by 7.03% between July and November 2025 compared with the same period last year. During these five months, exporters shipped more than 75,766 metric tons of fish and fish products, earning $173.75 million. In the corresponding period of the previous year, exports totalled 75,336 metric tons, valued at $162.33 million, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Meat and meat product exports also showed positive momentum. Exports increased by 7.12% during the review period, with shipments reaching about 47,990 metric tons and generating $215.94 million in revenue. Last year, meat exports in the same months totalled 47,507 metric tons, valued at $201.59 million.
Read: IMF Projects Pakistan GDP at Rs193.6tn by 2030, Flags Export Shortfall
Fresh fruit exports recorded notable gains as well. Pakistan earned $149.92 million by exporting 240,297 metric tons of fresh fruits in the first five months of the financial year. In the same period last year, fruit exports totalled 220,574 metric tons, with earnings of $132.58 million.
In contrast, rice exports declined sharply during the period. Exports fell by 49.24% to 1.425 million metric tons valued at $769.29 million, compared with 2.377 million metric tons worth $1.51 billion in the same months of the previous year.
Meanwhile, food group imports increased significantly. During the first five months of the current financial year, Pakistan imported food items worth $3.85 billion, marking a 28.33% increase from $3.0 billion recorded in the same period last year.
The data highlights mixed trends in Pakistan’s food trade, with export growth in select categories offset by higher import bills and a sharp drop in rice shipments.
