As global consumers shift toward healthier, organic, and ready-to-eat snack options, dried fruits are emerging as a high-growth commodity in international agri trade. In markets like the GCC, EU, and East Asia, the demand for halal, sulphur-free, naturally dehydrated fruits has risen significantly — and Pakistan is perfectly positioned to fill this demand with its rich agricultural diversity and year-round fruit supply.
While the country is widely known for its fresh mangoes, citrus, and dates, the value-added segment of dried and dehydrated fruits remains underdeveloped, presenting a powerful export opportunity for forward-thinking exporters and agri entrepreneurs.
The Global Rise of Dried Fruit Consumption
Dried fruits — including mangoes, apricots, apples, plums, bananas, and dates — are seeing surging demand due to:
- Changing lifestyles favouring convenient, healthy snacks
- Growth in vegan, paleo, and clean-label diets
- A boom in halal-certified and organic food markets
- Increased use in cereals, bakery, and confectionery industries
According to Mordor Intelligence (2024), the global dried fruit market is projected to exceed USD 65 billion by 2030, with major demand hubs in:
- United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
- Germany, Netherlands, UK
- Malaysia, Singapore, China, and Japan
Buyers in these regions are actively looking for non-sulphured, naturally dried, and chemical-free products with traceability and shelf-life certifications.
Why Pakistan is a Prime Exporter
Pakistan has a unique advantage in this space due to:
- Abundant seasonal fruits: Mangoes (Sindh & Punjab), apricots (Gilgit), apples (Swat), bananas (Sindh), plums (KP)
- Low cost of solar drying and labour
- Halal certification capability
- Natural climatic advantages for dehydration without excessive chemical preservation
Despite these strengths, dried fruit exports contribute less than 3% of total agri export value. The bottlenecks? Lack of commercial-scale dehydration units, poor packaging infrastructure, and limited international marketing.
Dried Fruits That Can Lead the Way
- Sun-Dried Mango Slices – Organic, no sugar added; high-value in Germany and Singapore
- Sulphur-Free Dried Apricots – Especially from Gilgit-Baltistan; in demand across the Middle East
- Dehydrated Bananas and Chips – Clean-label snacking trend in Malaysia and the UK
- Soft-Dried Plums (Alu Bukhara) – Used in sauces and desserts in East Asia
- Date-Based Energy Snacks – Huge growth in UAE and Europe’s halal wellness market
How Shah Mercantile Co. is Enabling This Transition
At Shah Mercantile Co., we’re building a dedicated value chain to help global buyers access traceable, export-grade dried fruit products from Pakistan.
Our Value Chain Approach Includes:
- Partnering with orchards and growers across Sindh, Punjab, and Gilgit
- Using solar-powered and tunnel dehydration methods to preserve nutrients
- Performing lab testing for moisture content, preservatives, and shelf life
- Offering sulphur-free, organic, and vegan-friendly certifications
- Providing custom packaging solutions (retail-ready or bulk) with barcoding and batch tracking
- Ensuring logistics support including temperature-controlled packaging and export documentation
Challenges We’re Solving for International Buyers
- Inconsistent drying standards → Our protocol standardizes thickness, moisture %, and texture
- Lack of food safety assurance → Full third-party lab testing + traceability from farm to port
- Poor shelf life → Oxygen barrier packaging, desiccant use, and moisture control
- Low transparency → Pre-shipment videos, weight verification, and live tracking updates
Pakistan’s dried fruit sector is the next big frontier in agri exports. The world is ready — and buyers are searching for reliable, transparent partners who can deliver both quality and compliance.
At Shah Mercantile Co., we’re bridging the farm-to-export gap with value-added dried fruit solutions that meet the strictest global standards.
📩 Email: info@shahmercantile.com
🌐 Website: www.shahmercantile.com
📞 WhatsApp / Call: +92 332 4444360
Let’s build your dried fruit supply line — ethically, efficiently, and expertly.