Russia reopens market for Pakistani potatoes, 101 exporters cleared

Russia has relaxed its curbs on potato shipments from Punjab, which reopens a key export destination for Pakistan and lets 101 domestic exporters resume sales there, Mettis Global reported. Former Sargodha Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Chaudhry Shoaib Ahmed Basra called the move a major chance for the farm sector, particularly growers and those who ship the crop abroad.

Output from the previous crop season reached about 12 million tonnes, and after domestic use of close to 8 million tonnes, roughly 4 million tonnes remained as an estimated surplus. According to APP, the reopened Russian market could absorb that excess and cut the chance of financial setbacks for producers facing a glut. Punjab supplies around 96% of the country's production, so the gains are expected to reach the entire chain, from growers to storage owners, middlemen, packers and shippers.

Basra stressed that Pakistani shippers need to keep quality high, improve packaging, strengthen cold-chain facilities and upgrade transport if they want a firmer foothold in Russia. He argued that better handling and grading would let exporters widen their share of the market and secure lasting access to it.