BM Desk : As new demand is generated in the global market, Bangladesh’s shrimp export industry has begun to recover in the current fiscal year after seeing its lowest exports in five years in the previous one.
Exports of frozen and live fish, including shrimp, rose 14.45% to $316.2 million in the first eight months of the 2024–25 fiscal year (July–February), according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Shrimp exports alone had a 17.06 percent increase, reaching $215.9 million. In February alone, exports increased by 23.25 percent.
From September to February, exports of both live and frozen fish continued their upward trajectory for six months in a row. Nonetheless, a large number of processing plants remain offline in the regions of Khulna and Chittagong. The primary causes of these factories’ closures include high costs, financial difficulties, and a lack of raw materials. According to industry participants, the student movement in July and August of last year was a significant setback for the business. But according to EPB data, shrimp exports are currently rising steadily. High orders from export markets have led to a major increase in the demand for shrimp, according to the Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association (BFFA). However, the severe lack of raw materials has put future sustainable expansion in jeopardy.
Shrimp producers are struggling to survive due to various challenges. As a result, most of the processing factories have closed.
According to the association, a total of 200 member companies of the organization are involved in shrimp and fish exports. Of these, only 25 percent are currently operational. The remaining 75 percent of the processing factories have closed their operations.
Although about 30 factories are still operational in Khulna, only 10-12 are in a stable condition. The condition of the factories in Chittagong is also not very good.
Industry sources say that despite the increase in demand in the global market, many exporters are unable to increase production due to the shortage of raw materials. Many local fish farmers have temporarily closed their operations due to high production costs, lack of infrastructure and financial crisis.
An exporter from Khulna, whose facility has been shut down, stated: “We don’t have fish fry, therefore we can’t fulfill requests from overseas buyers. If large-scale farming is not done locally, it will be challenging to meet export demand. The lack of raw materials is a significant barrier to the industry’s shift toward benami shrimp and legislative support. “The demand is really high in the European and Middle Eastern markets,” a BFFEA official stated. With the correct assistance, Bangladesh’s exports may rise significantly. The lack of raw resources is still a significant barrier, though.
