Non-Basmati Rice from Pakistan: IRRI-6, IRRI-9, C-9, and PK-386 in a Single Buyer's Guide

Pakistan's non-basmati rice is long grain, white or parboiled, and priced to move volume. The four workhorses buyers ask us about most are IRRI-6, IRRI-9, C-9, and PK-386. This guide breaks down what each one actually is, the specs to lock in your contract, and the documents you need before a single container leaves Karachi.

Quick framing first. IRRI-6, IRRI-9, and C-9 are non-aromatic long grain varieties. PK-386 sits a little differently — it's a long, slender grain that's more premium than the IRRI types but still non-basmati. Buyers use it when they want basmati-like length without the basmati price.

What's the difference between IRRI-6, IRRI-9, C-9 and PK-386?

Here's the short version. All four are non-basmati Pakistan varieties, but they're not interchangeable on your table or in your bag.

IRRI-6 is the volume king. Medium-to-long grain, non-sticky when cooked properly, and the default choice for African and Middle Eastern markets buying on price. It comes white or parboiled (sella). Parboiled IRRI-6 is huge in West Africa because it holds up in long cooking and stretches further.

IRRI-9 is close to IRRI-6 in profile — long grain, non-aromatic — but tends to run a touch longer and cleaner in appearance. Some buyers prefer it for a slightly better grain finish at a similar price band.

C-9 is another long grain white variety, again in the same non-aromatic family. Availability shifts season to season, so if you specifically want C-9, confirm current stock with us rather than assuming it's always on the floor.

PK-386 is the step up. Longer, more slender grain, and it cooks to a fluffier, more separated result. It's not aromatic like 1121 basmati, but the grain length gives you a premium look. Good bridge product for buyers who want to trade up from IRRI without paying basmati money.

Honestly? If you're buying for a price-sensitive market and cooking performance matters more than looks, IRRI-6 parboiled is the smart buy. If your customers judge with their eyes at the point of sale, PK-386 earns its premium.

IRRI-6 rice specifications and the specs that actually matter

Don't sign on variety name alone. The variety tells you the grain type. The specs tell you what you're actually paying for. These are the standard parameters to nail down for any IRRI-6 rice specifications sheet or contract for the other three.

Broken percentage is the number that moves the price. A 5% broken IRRI-6 and a 25% broken IRRI-6 are the same variety but very different products and very different costs. Decide what your market actually needs. Many African buyers are fine with — and even prefer — higher broken content because of price and cooking style.

Moisture matters for one reason: rice that ships too wet is rice that arrives with problems. Cap it. We test it.

And get the crop year in writing. Old crop and new crop behave differently in the pot.

What documents do I need to import non-basmati rice from Pakistan?

The paperwork is where deals get delayed, so get it right upfront. Here's the standard export document set we prepare for non-basmati shipments out of Pakistan.

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Bill of Lading
• Certificate of Origin
• Phytosanitary Certificate (issued by Pakistan's Department of Plant Protection)
• Fumigation Certificate
• Weight and Quality / Inspection Certificate
• Any certificate your own country's regulator requires on top of these

That last line is the one that catches buyers out. Your import rules aren't the same as your neighbor's.

Here's a concrete example that trips people up. Kenya has specific phytosanitary requirements around Trogoderma granarium — the khapra beetle — and importers there sometimes need an additional declaration on the phytosanitary certificate confirming the consignment is free from it. This is the same khapra beetle concern that shows up in requirements for rice from India too. If you're a Kenya buyer, tell us before shipment so the additional declaration for Trogoderma granarium is worded correctly on the Kenya rice phytosanitary certificate. Fixing it after the container sails is expensive. Fixing it before costs nothing.

So the rule is simple. Send us your destination country and your importer's exact requirements before we finalize documents. We match the paperwork to your border, not to a generic template.

Who buys which variety, and where Pakistan is the right origin

Pakistan is the 4th largest rice exporter in the world, and non-basmati is a big chunk of that. We source directly from farms in Punjab and Sindh, handle the quality testing, fumigation, and documentation, and ship to buyers across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, China, and Southeast Asia.

Where Pakistani non-basmati genuinely wins: parboiled IRRI-6 for West and East Africa, competitively priced white long grain for the Middle East, and PK-386 for buyers who want length without basmati cost.

Where I'll be straight with you — if your buyers demand a very specific short-grain or a particular fragrant non-basmati profile tied to another origin, that other origin may be the better fit. I'd rather tell you that now than sell you the wrong grain.

One note on trade rules. We deal in legitimate, documented international trade only, and we can't ship into markets under sanctions or trade restrictions — places like North Korea (DPRK), Syria, Russia and Crimea, Venezuela, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan and Darfur, Zimbabwe, or Afghanistan can carry restrictions that make normal commercial shipment impossible or unlawful. If your delivery point sits near any of that, flag it early so we can check feasibility before you commit.

Your next step

Tell us three things: the variety you want (IRRI-6, IRRI-9, C-9, or PK-386), the broken percentage, and the destination country and port. With that, we'll send you a current spec sheet, a sample offer, and a live quote — plus a check on any special phytosanitary wording your border needs. Reach out to Acme Global at acmegt.com and ask for a non-basmati offer with full specs.