B Mirror Report: Overseas demand for a wide range of fruits grown in Bangladesh is rising steadily, a trend clearly reflected in the country’s export earnings, according to an analysis of data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
The EPB statistics show that Bangladesh earned just USD 0.58 million from fruit exports in the fiscal year 2021–2022. However, by fiscal year 2024–2025, earnings from fruit exports surged to USD 67.51 million. This means fruit export earnings increased more than 116 times within only three years.
Deputy Director (Export) of the Plant Quarantine Wing under the Department of Agricultural Extension, AKM Mofidul Islam, said several countries are showing strong interest in importing Bangladeshi fruits, particularly jackfruit and pineapple. He noted that international demand for locally produced fruits is growing consistently.
Meanwhile, Director of the Policy and Planning Division of the Export Promotion Bureau, Abu Mukhles Alamgir Hossain, told BSS that Bangladesh still lacks dedicated cargo aircraft for exporting agricultural goods. Currently, agricultural items are shipped mainly through passenger aircraft, but adequate facilities for transporting perishable products such as fruits and vegetables are largely unavailable, he said.
He also pointed out that Bangladesh lags behind developed nations in maintaining sanitation standards for agricultural products. Stressing the importance of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), he said enhanced training for farmers on hygiene and safety measures could further boost overseas demand. He added that the EPB regularly carries out advocacy for exporters and informs the concerned authorities about the challenges faced in agricultural exports.
Although earnings from agricultural exports declined over the past two fiscal years, they have started to recover again. In fiscal year 2024–2025, export earnings from agricultural products reached close to USD 1 billion, he said.
EPB data show that agricultural export earnings stood at USD 1.02 billion in fiscal year 2020–2021 and USD 1.1 billion in 2021–2022. The figure then dropped to USD 827 million in 2022–2023 before rising to USD 964 million in 2023–2024. In the latest fiscal year, earnings increased further to USD 988.62 million.
A closer look at the data reveals that in fiscal year 2024–2025, tea exports earned USD 4.10 million, vegetables USD 81.12 million, tobacco products USD 251.93 million, spices USD 56.31 million, dry foods USD 186.60 million, and oilseeds USD 24.06 million.
The analysis also highlights a sharp increase in overseas demand for betel leaves. Export earnings from betel leaves rose from USD 8.09 million in fiscal year 2020–2021 to USD 21.45 million in 2024–2025.
In addition, during the last fiscal year, exports of vegetable fats and oils brought in USD 118.04 million, sugar USD 20.82 million, beverages USD 35.47 million, oil cake USD 0.13 million, and other agricultural products USD 121.08 million.
Market analysis shows that Bangladeshi agricultural products are exported to more than 130 countries worldwide, with India remaining the largest destination. In fiscal year 2024–2025, agricultural exports to India amounted to USD 211.47 million, while shipments to Saudi Arabia reached USD 114.03 million.
Strong demand was also recorded in the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Malaysia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Exports to these countries during the last fiscal year stood at USD 74 million, USD 70 million, USD 51 million, USD 41 million and USD 48 million respectively. EPB data further indicate that demand for Bangladeshi agricultural products is also on the rise in Oman, the Philippines, Qatar, China and Canada.
