Exporting Rhodes Grass Hay from Pakistan to the Gulf: Specs, Ports, and Paperwork

By Olympic AgenciesLast updated: 10 July 2026

Quick Answer

Yes. Pakistan exported 930,802 tons of fodder worth $112.2 million in the last fiscal year, mostly Rhodes grass to the UAE, and the industry is targeting $1 billion in five years. Export bales must run below 12 to 15% moisture and 8 to 12% crude protein, move through Karachi Port, and carry a phytosanitary certificate.

Key facts
FY export value	930,802 tons of animal feeding stuff worth $112.2 million exported in the fiscal year ending June, mostly Rhodes grass
Industry target	$1 billion in annual fodder exports within five years, roughly a nine-fold jump
Quality spec	Moisture below 12 to 15%, crude protein 8 to 12%, compressed bales of 250 to 300 kg
Main route	Karachi Port to Jebel Ali (UAE); Dammam or Jeddah for Saudi Arabia
Market concentration risk	UAE alone took $33.2 million of exports; Saudi Arabia only $307,000; China has not yet approved the crop for import

Pakistan exported 930,802 tons of animal feeding stuff worth $112.2 million in the fiscal year ending June, most of it Rhodes grass hay bound for the Gulf, and the industry is targeting $1 billion in annual exports within five years, according to Arab News. Getting a container into that market means hitting Gulf buyers' quality specs, moving through the right port, and clearing a phytosanitary certificate before the vessel sails.

What quality specs do Gulf buyers expect from Rhodes grass hay?

Buyers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia expect moisture content below 12 to 15% to prevent mold or spoilage on the voyage, along with crude protein in the 8 to 12% range, digestible fiber, and essential minerals. Harvesting at the right growth stage preserves the protein-to-fiber balance; after cutting, the hay is sun-dried to bring moisture down before baling.

Bales are wrapped or covered to keep out moisture and dust, and labeled with bale weight, batch number, and origin details, per Bovipak's export process guide. Large compressed bales are typically 250 to 300 kg, though exporters will customize sizes from 20 kg up to 500 kg depending on what the buyer's handling equipment can take.

How is Rhodes grass hay packed and shipped from Pakistan?

Once bale size and payment terms are agreed, the hay is packed into bales, loaded into containers, and shipped either FCL or LCL. Saremco International notes that orders above roughly 28 tons ship FCL (full container load); anything smaller ships LCL (less than container load), sharing container space with other orders.

The physical export route runs inland from farms in Punjab, Sindh, and southern KP to Karachi Port, then by sea. Most UAE-bound cargo goes to Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, the region's main hay-import hub, while Saudi-bound shipments route through Dammam or Jeddah Port depending on the buyer's location, per Bovipak.

Step	What happens	Where
Harvest and dry	Cut at the right growth stage, sun-dried to target moisture	Farm (Punjab, Sindh, south KP)
Bale and pack	Compressed into 250-300 kg bales, wrapped, labeled	Farm or processing unit
Inland transport	Trucked to port, customs and export documentation filed	Karachi Port
Sea freight	FCL (28+ tons) or LCL, containerized	Jebel Ali, Dammam, or Jeddah

What documents does a Rhodes grass hay shipment need?

To export Rhodes grass hay to the UAE or Saudi Arabia, exporters need a phytosanitary certificate issued by Pakistan's plant protection authority, a certificate of origin, a commercial invoice and packing list, and a fumigation or pest-treatment certificate if the buyer requires one, according to Bovipak. Pakistan has been an IPPC signatory since 1954, and its national plant protection organization issues these certificates under the WTO's SPS Agreement.

Note that plant quarantine functions are currently being consolidated: the government merged the Department of Plant Protection and the Animal Quarantine Department into a single National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA), established by ordinance in 2025, with an orderly transition of staff and functions underway, per Dawn. Exporters should confirm with their clearing agent which office is currently issuing certificates at the time of shipment.

How big could this market get, and what is holding it back?

Rhodes grass cultivation in Pakistan has grown more than 60% in three to four years to roughly 120,000 acres nationwide, and the crop has become commercially valuable because water-scarce Gulf states increasingly import fodder rather than grow it domestically, Arab News reports. Cultivation for hay export got its start in southern Punjab in 2006-07, and by 2013 more than 20 farms across Punjab, Sindh, and south KP were growing it over roughly 20,000 acres for this purpose, per Dawn.

The industry's growth is also concentrated in one market: the UAE alone accounted for $33.2 million of last year's exports, while Saudi Arabia, despite importing far larger volumes of fodder overall (much of it currently from Sudan), bought only $307,000 worth from Pakistan, and China has not yet approved the crop for import, according to Arab News. Saudi Arabia banned local fodder production in 2015 over water shortages and turned to imports instead, which is part of why growers see it as the next big opportunity, per Dawn.

Quality-grade hay currently fetches around $170 per tonne ex-farm, Dawn reports, a price investors re-entered the market to protect after quality problems in the early years pushed some Middle East buyers away, prompting a wave of investment from 2014 onward into better drying and baling setups.

Pakistani farmers are also growing the seed side of this trade. If you are sourcing planting stock rather than export hay, see our companion guide on importing and cultivating Rhodes grass seed in Pakistan.

Olympic Agencies has cleared agricultural cargo, seeds, fertilizer, and agricultural machinery at Karachi Port and Port Qasim since 1982. We handle phytosanitary certification, container booking, and port documentation for Rhodes grass and alfalfa hay exporters shipping to Jebel Ali, Dammam, and Jeddah under our freight forwarding service. For the paperwork side, see our guide to getting a phytosanitary certificate through PSW. If you also export alfalfa, our alfalfa hay and seed export guide covers that market. Send us your bale specs, container volume, and destination port on WhatsApp and we will handle the rest.

Shipping Rhodes grass hay to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or Oman? WhatsApp your bale specs and destination port and we will handle customs and freight.

WhatsApp us your shipment details →

Frequently Asked Questions

What moisture and protein content do Gulf buyers require in Rhodes grass hay?+

Buyers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia expect moisture content below 12 to 15% to prevent mold and spoilage during the sea voyage, along with crude protein of roughly 8 to 12%, digestible fiber, and essential minerals. Hay is sun-dried before baling to hit these moisture targets, then wrapped or covered to keep out dust and moisture in transit.

How big are the export bales and how are they shipped?+

Large compressed bales typically run 250 to 300 kg, though exporters can customize down to 20 kg or up to 500 kg depending on the buyer. Orders above roughly 28 tons move as FCL (full container load); smaller orders ship LCL (less than container load), sharing a container with other cargo.

Which ports handle Pakistan's Rhodes grass exports?+

Bales move by inland transport from farms in Punjab and Sindh to Karachi Port, then by sea to Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, the main hub for UAE hay imports. Shipments bound for Saudi Arabia usually route through Dammam or Jeddah Port depending on the buyer's location.

Why is Pakistan's fodder export industry so dependent on the UAE?+

The UAE accounted for $33.2 million of Pakistan's fodder exports, the largest single share, while Saudi Arabia took only $307,000 despite far larger fodder imports overall (much of Saudi Arabia's demand is currently met from Sudan), and China has not yet approved Pakistani fodder for import. Industry groups say hitting the $1 billion target depends on Islamabad securing market access in both of those markets.

Olympic Agencies

Clearing agricultural cargo - seeds, fertilizers, and machinery - at Karachi Port and Port Qasim since 1982. Members of PIFFA and the Chamber of Commerce.