Why Pakistan's Basmati Export History Is Linked To Punjab

Basmati is one of Pakistan's main exports. Most basmati exports come from the basmati rice mills of Gujranwala and Kamoke in Punjab. One of the most prominent brands of Punjab's basmati rice mills is Ocean Pearl Rice Pakistan, the product of Waqar Rice Mills. According to the company, it is one of the biggest exporters of basmati rice in Pakistan, with its products shipped to more than 20 countries. A closer look into the activities of one Punjab rice exporter would give us an inside perspective on the industry in general.

Ocean Pearl Rice Pakistan: From Rice Mill To Global Market

Ocean Pearl is a brand of Waqar Rice Mills, operating in Kamoke, on G.T. Road, District Gujranwala. The mill processes a certain line of products: Classic, Golden Sella, Super, Rozana, Jhalak, and Brown Basmati. The company claims that it is the biggest rice exporter in Pakistan, with its exports including Gulf markets (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman), Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden), North America (United States, Canada) and additional markets in Australia, New Zealand, Kenya and Russia.

The issue of whether it is the biggest exporter of Pakistan with its hundreds of registered rice mills cannot be independently verified — the ranking should be confirmed by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) or the statistics of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics — but the geographic spread is evident and unusual for a Punjab-based mill.

The Features Of The Biggest Rice Mill In Pakistan

There are three features of a facility that make it the largest rice mill in Pakistan: capacity to source paddy, infrastructure for processing the crop, and export compliance. All these features are represented by the operations of Ocean Pearl Rice in a modern way:

• Sourcing: Punjab's basmati-producing areas include Gujranwala, providing the mills in the area with the possibility to source high-quality paddy.
• Processing: The mill processes both raw and parboiled (Sella) basmati, giving it the ability to process the markets with different preferences for the variety: parboiled rice is preferred in the Middle East and Africa, while aged raw basmati is preferred in South Asia and the West.
• Export compliance: Export grade rice is tested for moisture, pesticide residue and grain length, distinguishing the biggest rice mill in Pakistan from a smaller local processor who sells his rice domestically.

Manual Old-Fashioned Export Of Rice From Pakistan vs. Modern Export Model

Traditionally, the export of rice from Pakistan followed a simple scheme – a mill sold rice to a middleman, who then sold it to foreign buyers, with no direct connection between the mill and the buyers abroad. Such a system is still functioning well, though it has several drawbacks – slower response to quality issues, lesser brand recognition abroad and prices determined exclusively by intermediaries rather than producers.

The model used by Ocean Pearl Rice is completely different – a single processor creates his retail brand (several product lines, consistent packaging, recognisable identity), sells both under his own name and as a supplier of the private label to the buyers abroad and exports directly to dozens of countries instead of exporting everything through one or two trading partners. The shift from a mere bulk supplier to a branded exporter is a trend that most of Pakistan's serious rice mills have been following over the last decade, bringing higher profits and establishing relationships with repeat buyers rather than relying on bulk sales.

Geographic Spread Of Ocean Pearl Rice Exports

According to the export documents of the company, the exports of Ocean Pearl Rice include basmati and non-basmati rice to:
• Middle East: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman
• Europe: UK, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Greece
• North America: United States, Canada
• Additional markets: Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Russia
A restaurant chain in the Gulf sourcing parboiled basmati for high-volume kitchens and a specialised retailer in North America sourcing aged basmati for South Asian households represent very different buyer profiles – and a mill capable of catering to them without changing its supply chain is rare in the industry of narrow, specialised exporters.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ocean Pearl Rice and Pakistani Rice Exporting Industry

Is Ocean Pearl Rice the same company as Waqar Rice Mills?

Yes. Ocean Pearl is the brand under which Waqar Rice Mills, based in Kamoke, Gujranwala, exports its basmati and non-basmati rice products.

What types of rice does Ocean Pearl produce?

The main lines produced include Classic Basmati, Golden Sella (parboiled), Super Basmati, Rozana (household rice), Jhalak and Brown Basmati.

Which countries import Ocean Pearl Rice?

The company exports to more than 20 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, and Australia.

Is Ocean Pearl really the biggest rice exporter in Pakistan?

It is one of the largest processors in the Gujranwala milling belt and markets itself as such; confirmation of this fact requires checking the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan or Pakistan Bureau of Statistics export data, as there are many large exporters in Pakistan and no public rankings.

How can a buyer check the export quality before ordering?

A legitimate exporter should be able to provide lab test results on moisture content, grain length, and pesticide residue, as well as the phytosanitary certificate for the destination country.

Author Bio

The above-referred article has been written by Mohsin Aziz (https://pk.linkedin.com/in/mohsin-aziz-3312b423), who is a contributor to the food industry and has 10+ years of experience in export logistics, with expertise in sourcing criteria and B2B private labelling in South Asia and North America.