Heavy September rains in Pakistan could dent supplies of guar and hit local sugar markets after flooding and waterlogging in key growing areas, the Expana Global Weather Report – September 2025 (customer access only) said.
South and central-eastern Pakistan saw up to 450% more rainfall than normal last month, the report said, with the Punjab and Sindh provinces, which together produce about 80% of the country’s guar and 93% of its sugar cane, being the most impacted.
Figure 1. Pakistan’s 2025 September precipitation percentage change compared to the 30-year average.
High rainfall can blacken and wither guar seeds, lower bean quality, reduce yield and gum quality. Downpours and standing water also reduce sugar content in canes and increase disease pressure. Domestic sugar supplies are likely to tighten if large areas remain unusable during the harvest.
The report said that flooding has damaged more than 57,000 acres of sugar cane in Punjab. Pakistan accounts for roughly 5% of global sugar cane production but is a minor exporter, meaning impacts are likely to be felt mainly in domestic markets.
Figures from the Punjab Guar Research Station show that Pakistan typically accounts for about 20% of global guar production. Pakistan also produces different types of guar gum powder, catering to various industries. In food, highly refined guar gum is used in ice cream, sauces, dairy products, and gluten-free foods.
Pakistan’s neighbor, India, produces nearly 90% of the world’s guar gum supply. India’s guar gum exports in 2023-24 amounted to 4.2 lakh tons (approximately 463,000 tons), valued at about $541 million, according to Jodhpur-based South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC) estimates.
Written by Demelza Knight
