Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Target $3 Billion in Agricultural and Food Exports

Two-year target for agricultural trade

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have committed to expanding cooperation in agricultural and food trade and investment, with the goal of raising Pakistani agricultural and food exports to Saudi Arabia to $3 billion over the next two years. The target was set out in a joint declaration on agricultural cooperation following a Saudi delegation’s visit to Islamabad.

Dunya News reported that the Saudi delegation, led by the country’s minister of environment, water and agriculture, visited Islamabad from August 26 to 28, 2026. Discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif covered opportunities for agricultural cooperation within the countries’ broader strategic partnership.

The declaration identifies rice, red meat, fruit, concentrates and green fodder as priority sectors. The two governments also agreed to deepen cooperation on water-efficient agricultural technologies, irrigation and programs serving small farmers. These measures link the export target to production capacity, resource efficiency and the ability of Pakistani suppliers to meet Saudi market requirements.

Rice and meat provide an existing trade base

Rice is already a substantial part of Pakistan’s agricultural sales to Saudi Arabia. According to Dunya News, Pakistan exported approximately 169,000 tonnes of rice to the kingdom in 2025, valued at about $163 million. Saudi Arabia expressed interest in increasing those purchases further, potentially creating additional demand across Pakistan’s rice value chain.

Red meat is another established trade flow. Pakistan currently exports approximately 30,000 tonnes of red meat to Saudi Arabia annually, worth about $167 million. The Saudi side indicated that it wants to gradually double imports of Pakistani red meat. Achieving that increase would require consistent supplies and closer alignment with the quality and certification conditions applicable in the Saudi market.

The countries also see room to increase trade in fruit and concentrates and to expand the share of Pakistani fruit in Saudi imports. Their declaration encourages steps toward mutual recognition of quality certification and calls for easier business matchmaking between private companies. Such arrangements could reduce commercial friction for processors, livestock businesses, growers and exporters seeking Saudi buyers.

Investment and long-term supply arrangements

Saudi Arabia identified green fodder as a promising area for a long-term supply partnership. The two sides also reviewed investment proposals involving livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain. No values or implementation schedules for those proposals were disclosed, but both governments agreed to maintain contact on agricultural investment and cooperation.

Water use is a central part of the wider agenda. Saudi Arabia described the first phase of a water-efficient irrigation program in Bhakkar as successful and expressed interest in a second phase focused on small farmers. The initiative could support production while addressing the resource constraints associated with expanding agricultural output.

The declaration also covers sector-level engagement. Saudi Arabia encouraged Pakistan to join the International Dates Council, while Pakistan welcomed an invitation to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture exhibition in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026. The exhibition will provide another venue for companies and officials to develop contacts around the products and investment areas identified in Islamabad.

The $3 billion objective is considerably broader than simply increasing shipments of one commodity. Rice and meat offer measurable starting points, while fruit, concentrates and fodder provide additional routes for growth. Progress will depend on converting government commitments into supply agreements, recognized certification, processing investment and reliable production over the stated two-year period.