Frozen fish, shrimp exports rebound with 19% growth, India and China top destinations
Fresh data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) show exports of frozen fish and shrimp reached $388.7 million, up from $325.73 million a year earlier
Highlights:
- Fisheries exports rose 19.33% to $388.7 million after decline
- Strong demand from India and China boosted recovery
- Shrimp exports rose 19.32%, remaining the sector's main earner
- Compliance, traceability, and quality improvements drove growth
- Climate, financing, and disease still hinder shrimp production
- Structural reforms needed to sustain and expand recovery
Bangladesh's frozen fisheries exports rebounded strongly last fiscal year, rising 19.33% after two consecutive years of decline, driven by improved compliance and enhanced quality control.
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Fresh data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) show exports of frozen fish and shrimp reached $388.7 million, up from $325.73 million a year earlier. Strong demand from India and China played a key role in the recovery, signalling renewed confidence in one of the country's crucial export sectors.
The growth marks the sector's strongest recovery in four years, despite a 21% fall in fish catch from the Bay of Bengal and ongoing challenges in shrimp farming.
Tariqul Islam Zaheer, senior vice president of the Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association (BFFEA), said exporters have adapted quickly to new compliance requirements.
"Improved traceability, quality control, and disease management are now yielding results," he added.
However, Zaheer noted that shrimp production has been declining in recent years due to unfavourable weather, siltation in rivers and canals, and opposition from environmental groups to using saline water essential for shrimp farming.
"Exporters are incurring losses because of low production despite high processing capacity. Besides, securing bank financing is difficult, which further slows growth," he said.
Shrimp drives rebound
Shrimp remains the backbone of fisheries exports, accounting for the bulk of earnings, EPB data show.
Last fiscal, Bangladesh shipped 23,238 tonnes of frozen shrimp worth $296.29 million, a rise of 19.32% in value and 21.5% in volume compared to the previous fiscal year.
The average export price dipped slightly from $12.98 to $12.75 per kilogram, reflecting competitive pressure from Vietnam and India.
Frozen fish exports rose 19.38% in value to $92.41 million, although volumes fell 10.7% to 7,951 tonnes.
The average price jumped from $8.69 to $11.62 per kilogram, suggesting buyers are favouring higher-value species or responding to global fisheries inflation.
Fisheries remains among Bangladesh's top export earners, supporting hundreds of thousands of livelihoods in coastal regions such as Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Chattogram
Comeback after turbulent years
The rebound follows a turbulent period for Bangladesh's fisheries sector. Between 2019 and 2023, exports declined sharply due to global inflation, pandemic-era disruptions, and disease outbreaks such as Early Mortality Syndrome, which devastated shrimp farms in Khulna and Satkhira.
Exports fell over 20% in FY23 and dropped another 10% the following year.
Industry insiders attribute the turnaround to investments in modern processing and cold-chain facilities meeting EU, US, and Japanese standards, a weaker taka boosting export competitiveness, and rising orders from China alongside recovering European restaurant demand.
Changing global demand patterns
China emerged as the largest shrimp market, importing $56.69 million in FY25, while the Netherlands and the UK imported $47.39 million and $44.96 million respectively. European markets account for more than half of Bangladesh's frozen shrimp earnings.
For frozen fish, India led with $62.54 million in imports, followed by China at $59.03 million and the UK at $52.87 million.
Economic impact and challenges
Fisheries remains among Bangladesh's top export earners, supporting hundreds of thousands of livelihoods in coastal regions such as Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Chattogram.
The FY25 rebound is expected to ease pressure on coastal economies hit by farm closures, climate-induced salinity intrusion, and export slowdowns.
Despite positive figures, challenges persist. Shrimp farms face high production costs, water pollution, limited access to quality broodstock, disease outbreaks, and poor biosecurity.
Climate change is shrinking suitable farming areas, prompting producers to adopt mixed aquaculture systems. On the export side, stricter EU regulations on antibiotic residues and sustainability certifications are raising compliance costs.
"Without proper traceability and farm-to-factory transparency, we risk losing premium markets," warned Chattogram-based exporter Dodul Kumar Datta.
According to BFFEA, Bangladesh has 110 fisheries processing facilities, but only 30–40 remain active, with just 10 operating at full capacity. Industry leaders say increasing farm-level production is crucial to reactivate idle facilities.
"The numbers show recovery, but structural reform is needed, including better hatchery management, disease control, eco-friendly farming, and investment in cold-chain infrastructure," Datta added.
