Markets
Expanding into the US and EU: A Pakistani Exporter's Playbook
Compliance, buyer relationships, and the operational realities of shipping perishables to the world's most demanding markets.
For most Pakistani exporters, the Middle East is the natural first market. But North America and the European Union — with their premium price points and long-term contract programmes — are where sustainable margin lives.
Entry is not easy. FDA registration, EU pesticide MRLs, and BRCGS-style buyer audits each demand infrastructure and documentation that many Pakistani facilities cannot supply. Building that stack takes 12 – 18 months and real capital.
The reward is buyer stickiness. Once a European retailer approves a supplier, switching costs are high — audits, listings and packaging artwork are not casually redone. Exporters who make it through the door tend to stay.
