uit export earnings fell to $7.38 million in July-September, from $30.86 million in the same period a year earlier
Photo: UNB
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Photo: UNB
Highlights:
- Bangladesh’s fruit export earnings plunged 76% year-on-year to $7.38 million.
- Strait of Hormuz disruptions and soaring freight costs disrupted shipments.
- Shipping costs surged from $2,000-$2,200 to $7,000-$8,000.
- Poor traceability, inadequate cold storage and weak farm records hamper exports.
- Insufficient treatment facilities, laboratory testing and expensive packaging restrict competitiveness.
- Exporters urge investment in infrastructure, quality control and compliance.
Bangladesh’s fruit export earnings plunged 76% year-on-year in the first quarter of FY2026-27 as shipping disruptions and longstanding gaps in traceability, post-harvest infrastructure, and compliance with international quarantine standards hampered exporters.
Fruit export earnings fell to $7.38 million in July-September, from $30.86 million in the same period a year earlier, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data.
An official at the Department of Agricultural Extension’s (DAE) Plant Quarantine Wing, speaking on condition of anonymity, said disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis had affected sea shipments and export volumes.
Mangoes and jackfruits are among Bangladesh’s major fruit exports to the European Union, the United Kingdom and Middle Eastern markets, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. But soaring freight costs are making these markets harder to serve, said Hafizur Rahman, a fruit exporter and member of the Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters Association.
Onup Das, director of fruit and vegetable exporter Alexa Trading Corporation, said shipping costs had jumped from $2,000-$2,200 to $7,000-$8,000.
Infograph: TBS
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Infograph: TBS
Air freight offers little relief, as limited cargo space and irregular flight schedules make timely delivery difficult, he added. Shipments of tender coconuts to Oman and cabbage to the Maldives are currently held up by shipping complications, he said.
Beyond logistics, inadequate cold storage, treatment facilities, laboratory testing, packaging and farm-level record-keeping are also restricting export growth.
Traceability and cold-chain gaps hamper exports
Hafizur said limited awareness of traceability requirements and a lack of contract farming made it difficult for exporters to meet international standards. A shortage of collection centres and packing houses near airports also undermined efforts to keep produce fresh before shipment.
Md Mahbubul Alam Shakib, a lecturer at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, said farmers often failed to maintain records of pesticide and fertiliser use, making it difficult to trace excessive pesticide residues in exported fruit. He recommended expanding contract farming and introducing a simple Bangla-language digital system for recording chemical use.
The lack of an effective cold chain from farms to export facilities also increases spoilage risks, Mahbubul said. Produce can deteriorate while being transported to the central packing house in Shyampur, Dhaka. He recommended establishing packing houses and treatment facilities closer to production hubs such as Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj.
A DAE official said the department was linking farmers with export requirements. Upazila Agriculture Officers issue traceability certificates to contract farmers, while field officers monitor cultivation practices. Farmers must also follow pesticide-use guidelines and observe the required interval between spraying and harvesting.
The official said cooling vans were being used to transport exportable produce, while the government had announced plans for temperature-controlled short-term storage at the airport, particularly for perishable items such as mangoes. Plans to establish thousands of mini cold-storage facilities nationwide could also reduce post-harvest losses.
Treatment, testing and packaging add to costs
Meeting importing countries’ plant-health requirements remains a major challenge, particularly for exporters seeking access to new markets.
Hafizur said vapour heat treatment (VHT) and hot water treatment (HWT) were essential for accessing major markets, but Bangladesh needed more treatment facilities. Mahbubul also identified the shortage of suitable facilities as a barrier to market access.
A DAE official said the VHT centre in Gabtoli, inaugurated in July 2026, provided treatment, quarantine and other export-related services. A one-stop service has also been announced to bring treatment, packaging and quarantine clearance under one roof before consignments are sent to the airport.
High testing and packaging costs pose further challenges. Hafizur said inadequate laboratory facilities and expensive tests made it difficult to verify compliance with international standards. High import duties on carton-making materials also increased packaging costs, underscoring the need for greater investment in domestic packaging production.
Stronger quality control and sustained investment in export infrastructure are essential to improve competitiveness and build foreign buyers’ confidence, he added.
For Bangladesh’s fruit exporters, production is only the first step. Reliable shipping, proper storage, treatment facilities and affordable testing are crucial to turning the country’s fruit output into sustained export earnings.
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