Pakistan eyes $1bn fruit, vegetable export industry within 3 years

September 2, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan has the potential to build a $1 billion annual fruit, vegetable and value-added export industry within the next two to three years by improving export conversion, reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening processing, cold-chain and market access infrastructure, according to Rai Omar, Chief Financial Officer of SE Fruits & Vegetables Limited.

The company, an established exporter with a track record spanning nearly three decades and access to more than 22 international markets, is preparing for its proposed Initial Public Offering (IPO) at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data, Pakistan exported approximately $471m worth of fresh fruits and vegetables in FY2026, including around $308m of fruits and $163m of vegetables.

Rai said a $1bn export target remains achievable considering Pakistan’s agricultural production base and the size of the international market.

The target is also below a broader industry roadmap announced in December 2025 by the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters and Merchants Association (PFVA), together with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), which envisaged increasing fruit, vegetable and value-added exports from around $700m to $2bn within three years.

“The agricultural base is already here. The opportunity is to export more of what Pakistan produces, reduce losses and realise greater value from every tonne harvested,” Rai said.

Pakistan’s opportunity is particularly significant in major horticulture categories such as kinnow, mangoes and potatoes.

The combined global market for oranges, mangoes and potatoes is estimated at approximately $236bn. The global orange market alone was valued at around $48.4bn in 2024, while the mango market was estimated at approximately $67.9bn and the potato market at around $120bn.

At US$1 billion, Pakistan would still account for less than 0.5% of this combined global opportunity.

Domestic production volumes are already substantial. Pakistan produces approximately 2.1m tonnes of kinnow and more than 1.8m tonnes of mangoes annually, while potato production increased to approximately 12m tonnes in FY2026.

However, only a relatively small portion of the country’s production ultimately reaches international markets, while post-harvest losses across the wider fruit and vegetable supply chain are estimated at around 30% to 40%.

According to Rai, this makes export conversion rather than agricultural production itself one of the key challenges.

“The opportunity lies in improving sorting and grading, packaging, cold-chain infrastructure, phytosanitary compliance and connectivity with international buyers,” he said. “Better working-capital availability is equally important because exporters must be able to procure quality produce and offer competitive credit terms to established overseas customers.”

International horticulture exporters including South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Türkiye have demonstrated that significantly higher proportions of agricultural production can be converted into exports when supporting infrastructure and market linkages are in place.

SE Fruits & Vegetables also sees substantial headroom within its existing international markets.

The company has assessed demand across 23 countries where it has either exported or identified opportunities for mangoes, kinnow and potatoes. These markets represent estimated annual demand of approximately 5.89m tonnes, comprising around 548,000 tonnes of mangoes, 2.37m tonnes of kinnow and 2.97 million tonnes of potatoes.

SE exported approximately 5,115 tonnes in FY2026, including 3,600 tonnes of kinnow and 1,515 tonnes of mangoes. The company is targeting exports of approximately 30,327 tonnes in FY2027 and 35,953 tonnes in FY2028.

Even after the projected increase, SE would remain a relatively small participant in Pakistan’s overall fruit and vegetable export pool, indicating considerable room for further expansion.

The company has historically served around 50 international customers, although approximately 15 were serviced recently. This leaves a large part of its historical customer network, particularly in Central Asia and the Far East, available for potential reactivation.

Inquiries and letters of intent received from a small group of customers represent approximately 65,150 tonnes of potential demand across kinnow, mangoes and potatoes more than twice SE’s projected FY2027 export volume.

Existing processing capacity may also support expansion. SE’s kinnow processing platform was utilised at approximately 32%, with utilisation expected to reach around 59% by FY2027 and 61% by 2028 following planned growth.

The company is also evaluating additional export markets, new product categories and earlier-season varieties to extend its operating cycle.

Central Asia is considered an attractive corridor for kinnow exports, particularly during winter, when lower ambient temperatures can support product shelf life and potentially improve transportation economics on suitable routes.

“Pakistan does not need to dominate international trade to build a $1bn fruit, vegetable and value-added export industry,” he said. “The production is available, international demand exists and there is considerable scope to convert a much larger share of Pakistan’s agricultural output into exports.”

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