High domestic prices kept Pakistan's rice exports under pressure in the past week and demand from exporters was likely to stay low in the coming weeks, traders said on Tuesday.
"Domestic rates stand firm and exporters are finding it difficult to find buyers at these high levels," Haji Abdul Majeed, a leading dealer, said.
"There are stocks available with millers and growers, but they are not releasing them on hopes of a further rise in the international rates."
Dealers said exports were not likely to pick up until prices of IRRI-6 variety came down.
Another dealer said many exporters who had promised supplies to African countries were finding it hard to meet commitments.
"There is around 650,000 of rice stocks available with mill owners and growers. But they are not releasing their stocks," he said.
Pakistani exporters were quoting $240 per tonne for IRRI-6 variety.
Traders said buyers in Pakistan's traditional African markets were increasingly looking to cheaper Indian and Southeast Asian rice.
The main buyers of Pakistani rice are Iraq, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and East African countries.
Pakistan's new rice crop is expected to yield 4.3-4.6 million tonnes.
With domestic demand at 2.3 million tonnes, the government has said it hoped to see exports of 1.9 million in the fiscal year to June 30, against the previous year's 1.72 million tonnes.
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