Pakistan aims to boost rice exports to Saudi Arabia, Iran

Iran has signed an agreement with Pakistan for purchasing 40,000 tons of rice from Pakistan and the shipment would start next month, Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Abdul Majeed has said.

According to IRNA, Iran has also floated a tender for buying 30,000 tons of Basmati rice from Pakistan, Majeed added. 

In addition, Majeed disclosed that a 16-member Pakistani delegation would be visiting Saudi Arabia in April for boosting rice exports. Saudi rice market was estimated at 1.1 million tons per year, while Pakistan exported only 0.15 million tons of rice to that country.

He said Pakistan was ready to export at least 0.5 million tons of rice to Saudi Arabia and the visit to that country was a key step towards this goal.