http://www.dawn.com/2006/03/22/ebr1.htm


Pakistan eyeing $1bn rice export: Demand increased




By Parvaiz Ishfaq Rana

KARACHI, March 21: After harvesting bumper paddy crop of 5.5 million tons the country is now poised to make a record export worth over $1 billion owing to larger surplus quantity and better prices being fetched for the current season 2005-06 crop.

For the first time the crop size is equally divided into Irri-6 and Basmati rice. After meeting domestic consumption there would remain around 1.8 million tons exportable surplus of Irri-6. The Basmati rice, however, will have lesser exportable surplus of around 0.8 million tons owing to higher domestic consumption.

According to official figures for July-February period of the current fiscal, the country exported around 1.7 million tons of rice, which included 1.3 million tons of Irri-6 and 0.4m tons of Basmati.

The export of Basmati rice during the period recorded an increase of 13 per cent at 0.465 million tons compared to 0.410 million tons in the corresponding period last year. Similarly, there was higher earning by 20 per cent at $267 million as against $222 million in the same period last year.

Exporters managed to make deals at better prices for the Basmati this year as average price stood at $573 per ton as against $541 per ton last year, thereby, resulting in higher export earning by 20 per cent in foreign exchange.

There is growing demand for Pakistani Basmati rice from across the Western border because Iran and Afghanistan are keen to meet their demand and also replenish their stocks. Other major consumers of Basmati rice are the oil rich states of Gulf and Middle East.

Iran has shown its keen interest and has already floated tender for the purchase of 30,000 tons Basmati rice and also wants to lift large quantity of Irri-9 rice. However, the crop size of Irri-9 is small and does not exceed 250,000 tons. Consequently, on strong demand from Iran the domestic price of Irri-9 shot up from Rs13,000 to Rs15,500 per ton.

Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) chairman Haji Abdul Majid told Dawn that there was a big problem while dealing with Iran as the pre-shipment inspection (PSI) of rice was carried out by their own official team which many a times resulted in cancellation of deals. However, other countries including Gulf and Middle East totally depend on Quality Review Committee (QRC) for pre-shipment inspection.

“We managed to make breakthrough into new markets including Iran which in the past used to be reluctant to purchase Pakistani rice, similarly, Iraq, Thailand and Philippines are new markets for our rice,” observed Majid.

He stressed that there was an urgent need of government involvement in exploring and opening up of Malaysian and Indonesian markets which normally prefer to import huge quantity of rice from other ASEAN member states because of proximity and advantage of lower freight.

However, he said that Pakistan being the largest importer of edible oil from Indonesia and Malaysia could exert pressure because presently we import around 1.3 million tons of palm oil from both the countries at a cost of around $900 million per annum.

“Indonesia imports around 1.3 million tons of rice and Malaysia around one million tons annually and they should give some market share to Pakistan, who is their biggest palm oil buyer,” he added.

He disclosed that REAP was taking a delegation to Saudi Arabia in April. But, According to official sources the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) was also taking a trade delegation the same month, therefore, it would be in the best national interest that the REAP delegation should have joined the official team which could save extra expenditures.

Giving July-February (2005-06) figures, he said the country exported around 1.25 million ton of Irri-6 and was likely to export another 200,000 tons during current month which would take the total to around 1.45 million tons.

With expected exportable surplus of 1.8 million tons of Irri-6 this would mean that a balance of around 0.4 million tons would be left to export in coming months.

Exporters were fetching an average price of $350 to $360 per ton for Irri-6.

Due to higher demand for Pakistani rice domestic prices also firmed up from Rs11,200 per ton to Rs11,600. Much of the Irri-6 was exported to West African and East African countries.

However, Majid said that there was also strong demand from Iran 40,000 tons of Irri-6. Similarly, he said Iraq was seeking 50,000 tons and Philippines 50,000 tons. He suggested that with improved supply side by introducing high yield rice Pakistan could become one of the leading rice exporter in the world.

He expected that the country this season would be able to export rice worth $1.2 billion and would join the exporters’ elite club of “one billion

dollar.”

I hope that our mango exports also reach a billion. Thier too damn good.

We need to upgrade our packing and transportation of fruits.

I have seen half the quantity of Pakistani mango's going down the drain due to sardine type packing in wooden boxes !

Must7 you have a point.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=4087...&term=&supDate=

Rice exports cross $1 billion mark

AHMED MALIK

KARACHI (April 09 2006): For the first time in the country's history, Pakistan's rice exports have crossed the $1 billion mark, to $1.002 billion, as a result of 2.81 million tons rice exported to different countries up to March 31.

According to figures available, 1.5 million tons Irri-6 variety was exported fetching $450 million, while 560,000 tons Basmati variety earned $325 million during nine months of the current fiscal year.

In addition to the above, 250,000 tons rice (both Irri-6 and Basmati varieties), worth $70 million, was exported to Iran, and 250,000 tons, worth $94 million to Afghanistan through land route, while 250,000 tons rice, worth $63 million, was exported to East African countries through container cargo during this period.

During last fiscal year 2004-05, Pakistan's total rice exports amounted to $933 million.

Total rice production in the current year has been recorded at 5.5 million tons, of which around 2.7 million tons was Irri-6 variety and equal quantity of Basmati variety has been produced.

Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) Chairman Abdul Majeed, while talking to Business Recorder here on Saturday, said that it was a historic occasion that Pakistan has become a member of $1 billion exporters' club this year. He said that due to a bumper crop, value-addition and exploration of new markets by the rice exporters the exports of this commodity crossed the $1 billion mark this year.

"We would be able to achieve the $1.2 billion target of rice exports, set by the Reap this year", he said, adding that rice exports could cross $1.3 billion mark as there is still three months' time to export this commodity.

He said that this was a tremendous achievement by rice exporters which had been possible due to the positive economic policies of the present government and hard work by the Ministry of Commerce and Commerce Minister.

He also lauded Export Promotion Bureau and other concerned government departments for their co-operation with the exporters.

excellent that pak is moving in this direction too. We can develop and export lots of agriculture goods.

They should try to export over $ 1.3 Billion because Pakistan needs to cross $ 20 Billion export for the financial year of 2006-2007 to make a dent in the poverty and position the GDP for sustained high growth. Mushraff should strat investing heavily in Education and infrastructure to keep GDP growth rate well over %6 which is crtical to help poor people improve thier lives.

Rice exports could rise past $1.2 billion this year.


http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/27/ebr20.htm


Rice exports reach record $1 billion

KARACHI, April 26: Pakistan sold a record 2.8 million tons of rice in the year to April 22, up more than 27 per cent from last year, a senior industry official said on Wednesday. “The rice export revenues have crossed $1 billion this year, beating the previous all-time high of $933 million in the last season,” Abdul Majid, Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, told Reuters.

“We would be able to export rice worth of $1.20 billion this year because we still have three more months to complete the season and around 300,000 tons of exportable rice is also available.”

Mr Majid said the record overseas sales were made after a big harvest last season, when the rice crop was 5.5 million tons against 4.8 million in 2004-05.

Annual domestic consumption of rice is about 2.3 million tons.

According to REAP data, private traders had exported 1.3 million tons of various varieties of aromatic basmati and 1.5 million tons of Irri-6 rice as of April 22. The main buyers of Pakistani rice were Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and the Philippines.

Mr Majid said the country planned to increase rice exports in the fiscal year 2006-07 following reports of another big harvest despite fierce competition from Southeast Asia.

“If the crop situation remains as expected, we would see at least 10 to 15pc increase in overseas sales next year,” he added.

Agriculture ministry officials expect the 2006-07 rice crop to exceed 5.7m tons.—Reuters

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=5775


Rice exporters seek more orders



By our correspondent

KARACHI: The rice exports have remained steady so far this season as exporters have been seeking more orders after fulfilling their earlier commitments with buyers.

“Pakistan is likely to achieve the highest rice export target of around 2.8 million tonnes in the current season,” Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Haji Majeed said.

This year, the country has so far exported around 1.5 million tonnes of rice to new markets like the Philippines and Iraq, 0.2 million tonnes to Afghanistan, 0.25 million tonnes to Iran and 0.25 million tonnes to Kenya.

The export of Basmati rice stood at around 0.7 million tonnes, which might cross the level of 0.9 million tonnes by the end of June.

Pakistan produced around 5.8 million tonnes of rice this season, comprising 3.5 million tonnes of Irri varieties and more than 1.5 million tonnes of high quality Basmati, Haji Majeed said.

In the local wholesale market, the price of Irri-6 rice was Rs12.85 per kg.

Most of the Irri produce booked by foreign buyers had been exported while left-over quantity would be shipped in coming weeks, Majeed added. He said rice prices had been under little pressure since April in the wake of Vietnam’s fresh crop arrival in the international market, adding Indian rice prices were also lower.

During this season, Pakistan exported around 1.8 million tonnes of Irri-6 to West African countries, besides Iraq and Iran. “West African states are not taking further interest in Pakistani rice as they have imported a huge quantity during this season,” Chairman REAP said.

However, he added East African countries, particularly Kenya and Mozambique, were expressing much interest in buying left-over quantity of around 0.3 million tonnes.

Some 2,000 metric tonnes of rice is being shipped daily from the Karachi port to different destinations, mainly Dubai.