Good news for Pakistan’s farmers and exporters: Pakistani maize has officially gained access to the Chinese market.
China’s customs administration issued quarantine rules allowing imports of maize grown in Pakistan on July 7, opening a potentially large new outlet for one of the country’s key cereal crops.
China imported around 26 million tonnes of maize in 2023, worth about $9 billion, mainly to support its livestock and feed industry. For Pakistan, where maize is the third-largest cereal crop after wheat and rice, this could create new export opportunities beyond existing buyers such as Vietnam.
Shipments will still take time. Pakistani farms, processing units and storage facilities must first be registered with Chinese customs, and exporters will need to meet strict pest-control, fumigation and certification requirements.
The move adds to recent Pakistan-China agricultural market-access progress, from dried fruits and nuts to medicinal plants, and could help Pakistani growers tap into a much larger regional food supply chain.
