Pakistan food exports to Saudi Arabia are poised for significant growth as rice, fodder and fruit exporters work to capitalize on a newly agreed target of raising agricultural and food shipments to the Kingdom to $3 billion within two years.
The target was set during an August 26 to 28 visit to Islamabad by a Saudi delegation led by Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, as the two countries look to deepen cooperation on agriculture and food security. Rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies were identified as priority sectors, with both sides seeking greater private-sector investment and cooperation to meet the goal.
Rice Industry Anchors Pakistan Food Exports to Saudi Arabia
Rice remains the largest single component of Pakistan food exports to Saudi Arabia. Pakistan shipped about 169,000 tons of rice worth $163 million to the Kingdom in 2025, according to a joint statement issued after the delegation’s visit, and Saudi officials have expressed interest in expanding purchases further.
Malik Faisal Jahangir, chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, said Saudi Arabia is the world’s second largest rice market and imports around 1.2 million tons of basmati rice annually. He said Pakistan currently supplies 9.6 percent of that volume and that exporters are pushing to raise their share to 20 percent, a commitment he said Saudi officials had first made in April 2024.
Basmati Rice Exports Face Stiff Regional Competition
The industry body is targeting around 325,000 tons of basmati rice exports to Saudi Arabia during the current fiscal year, nearly double the volume shipped in 2025. Jahangir acknowledged, however, that competition in the Saudi basmati segment is intense, with exporters typically working on margins of one to two percent, compared with a 15 percent premium Pakistani basmati commands in other export markets. He added that if Pakistani basmati rice becomes more competitively priced than Indian supplies, Saudi buyers are likely to favor Pakistani shipments, though exporters expect some price correction this season.
Pakistan’s commerce ministry says trade exhibitions will play a central role in translating these ambitions into firm business. Spokesperson Naveed-ul-Haq Kallu said Pakistani manufacturers will take part in upcoming events to connect with Saudi buyers and promote products, particularly premium basmati rice. The Saudi Food Show 2026 is scheduled in Riyadh from September 27 to 29, while FoodAg Pakistan 2026 will be held in Karachi from November 23 to 26.
Beyond rice, Saudi Arabia imports approximately 30,000 tons of Pakistani red meat annually, worth around $167 million, and has expressed interest in gradually doubling those purchases as part of the broader trade push.
Fodder Exporters Eye Diversification Beyond the UAE
Pakistani fodder exporters are also exploring the Saudi market, although current shipments remain minimal compared with sales to the neighboring United Arab Emirates. According to data from the Pakistan Hay Association, Pakistan exported 561,272 tons of animal feed to the UAE last fiscal year, against just 1,370 tons to Saudi Arabia.
Sarfaraz Ali Junejo, head of the association, said the entire volume currently sold to the UAE could theoretically be redirected to Saudi Arabia if the market proves commercially viable, noting that higher freight costs from the greater shipping distance remain a key consideration. He said Saudi buyers have shown interest in purchasing alfalfa and that talks on the matter are continuing.
Fruit and Vegetable Processors See Untapped Potential
Pakistani fruit and vegetable processors also see considerable room for expansion but cite high tariffs, weak direct links with Saudi buyers and certification recognition issues as ongoing obstacles. Saudi Arabia imported around $448 million worth of fruit and vegetable concentrates globally in 2025, while Pakistan supplied only $525,000, giving it less than 0.15 percent of that market, according to the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association.
The association says Pakistan produces roughly 6.8 million tons of major fruits annually, including 1.8 million tons of mangoes, between 2.1 and 2.5 million tons of mandarins, 800,000 tons of guava, 650,000 tons of dates and 600,000 tons of apples. Waheed Ahmed, the association’s patron-in-chief, said Saudi importers would need to accept internationally recognized third-party certifications, such as those issued by SGS, to ensure fair and consistent market access for Pakistani suppliers. The issue was also raised during the bilateral talks, with both countries agreeing to encourage business-to-business links and steps toward mutual recognition of quality certification standards.
Analysts Urge Caution Despite Optimism
While the direction of the trade push has been welcomed, some analysts caution that reaching the $3 billion target will require a substantial jump in actual sales rather than intentions alone. Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Limited, said the underlying arithmetic is demanding given current export volumes and a negotiating focus on market access rather than firm purchase commitments. He noted that the $3 billion figure represents a target both governments have agreed to work toward, not a guaranteed Saudi commitment to buy that amount of Pakistani goods. Nevertheless, he said any additional exports would benefit Pakistan’s balance of payments by generating foreign exchange without adding to external debt.
Conclusion
With rice, meat, fodder and fruit sectors all identified as priority areas, Pakistan food exports to Saudi Arabia are expected to expand meaningfully over the coming two years, even if the ambitious $3 billion target proves difficult to fully realize. Success will likely depend on how quickly exporters can address certification barriers, tariff constraints and logistics costs while capitalizing on Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in diversifying its food import sources under its Vision 2030 program.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, September 6th, 2026
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