Pakistani rice has proved its superiority
in the world market for its natural aroma, long grain and taste.
Basmati and IRRI are the leading varieties. Basmati rice is exported
mainly to Dubai, South Africa, UK, Yemen, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait,
Malaysia, and USA. While the buyers of non-basmati rice are Afghanistan,
Iran, Ivory Coast, Dubai, Bangladesh, Kenya, Iraq, Indonesia,
Morocco, Malaysia, Kuwait, Cameroon, Mauritius, Nigeria, Portuguese,
Guinea, Qatar, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Oman, Togo, and
Benin.
The competitive edge of Pakistani rice is quality. In this respect,
after basmati variety, no further development of a better variety
has seen. Basmati was introduced in 1980s and since then, it remains
the finest variety.
China, the world’s biggest market, is one of the potential
rice export market. China’s obligation to the WTO would
require it to allow import of rice up to 4 million tons of rice
annually. Pakistani rice, especially IRRI-6, IRRI-9, Basmati 385
and Super basmati are very famous in China. Moreover, Chinese
government has announced its rice import quota for 2003, and welcomed
Pakistani exporters to compete in the local market. Local Chinese
enterprises are allowed to import 2.2 million ton of long grain
rice and 1.5 million ton of short grain rice in 2003. At present,
our rice exports to China are nominal, and during first quarter
of 2002-03, rice worth of $33,000 has been exported to China
Iran is another potential market for Pakistani rice. During 2001-02,
Iran imported 245,000 tones basmati and IRRI-9 through Dubai,
and 35,000 tones directly from Pakistan. An aggressive marketing
strategy can tap a major share of Iranian market.
Bangladesh, meets its rice demand by importing 150,000 tons of
rice annually. During 2000-01, Pakistan exported 50,000 tons rice
to Bangladesh. Recently, Bangladeshi government has decreased
import duty on rice from 29% to 7.5%. This will definitely increase
import of rice to Bangladesh. Pakistan can get its share in Bangladeshi
market in liberal rice import scenario. |
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