Pakistan showcases food exports at SIAL Shanghai 2025 to gain benefit from China’s growing demand under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement.
Eleven Pakistani food and beverage companies are participating in SIAL Shanghai 2025, Asia’s leading food expo from May 19 to 21, aiming to tap into China’s expanding food market through a major trade agreement.
These firms, featured in a special national pavilion organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Shanghai, are presenting 20 different categories of products. These include rice, sesame, corn, dry fruits, fruit concentrates, pasta, and halal-certified dairy goods.
Spanning 200,000 square meters, the three-day exhibition has attracted 5,000 companies from 75 nations, showcasing around 350,000 food-related products.
Pakistan’s Consul General in Shanghai, Shehzad Ahmad Khan, emphasized the country’s increasing footprint in the global food market.
According to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Pakistan’s food exports rose to $3.959 billion during the first half of FY2024-25 (July–December 2024), reflecting a 13.83% year-on-year increase.
Khan also highlighted the impact of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA) in boosting agricultural and food trade between the two countries.
He noted that exports such as rice, seafood, sesame seeds, boiled beef, spices, dried fruits, and processed foods have significantly grown in volume.
In addition, he pointed to the rise of Chinese investment in Pakistan’s food and agriculture technology sectors, especially in areas like modern processing, packaging, and halal certification aligned with Chinese market preferences.
At the pavilion, Usman Akram of Pure Foods Ltd. said that their tropical fruit-based products, especially mango nectar, attracted significant interest. “We’ve received initial orders,” he mentioned, noting Chinese buyers’ preference for natural, preservative-free ingredients.
Abdullah Shahid from Tooba Rice Mills, exhibiting for the first time but exporting rice to China for years, expressed confidence about market expansion.
He shared that while they’ve long exported rice, the expo opened doors to new buyers looking for both basmati and non-basmati rice along with sesame seeds.
He added that they are engaging with both current and prospective clients to solidify their position in the Chinese market.
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