BSS
  19 Jan 2026, 20:09

Demand for Bangladeshi fruits increasing abroad

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By Naser Uddin

DHAKA, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - Demand for various types of fruits produced in Bangladesh is increasing overseas, a trend reflected in export earnings.

An analysis of data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) revealed this picture.

EPB data showed that Bangladesh earned only USD 0.58 million from fruit exports in fiscal year 2021–2022, while in 2024–2025 the earnings rose to USD 67.51 million.

In other words, within just three years, Bangladesh’s fruit export earnings increased by more than 116 times.

Deputy Director (Export) of the Plant Quarantine Wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension, AKM Mofidul Islam, said many countries want to import fruits such as jackfruit and pineapple from Bangladesh. 

Demand for Bangladeshi fruits is steadily increasing abroad, he said.

Director of the Policy and Planning Division of the Export Promotion Bureau, Abu Mukhles Alamgir Hossain, told BSS that Bangladesh does not have any dedicated cargo aircraft for exporting agricultural products. 

Agricultural products are exported overseas using passenger aircraft, he said adding however, the facilities required to export perishable agricultural products, including vegetables, are not available in air transport.

Mukhles Alamgir said there is a significant lack of sanitation standards in Bangladesh compared to what developed countries maintain for agricultural products. 

“Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are essential. If farmers can be provided with more training on sanitation, demand for Bangladeshi agricultural products will increase further. The EPB conducts advocacy for exporters and regularly informs the relevant authorities about the barriers exporters face in agricultural exports,” he said.

Although export earnings from agricultural products declined over the past two years, they have started to rise again this year, he said adding in fiscal year 2024–2025, export earnings from agricultural products reached nearly USD 1 billion.

According to EPB data, export earnings from agriculture were USD 1.02 billion and USD 1.1 billion in fiscal years 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, respectively. 
Subsequently, earnings declined to USD 827 million in 2022–2023 and USD 964 million in 2023–2024. In the most recent fiscal year, earnings increased to USD 988.62 million.

Further analysis of EPB data shows that in fiscal year 2024–2025, export earnings from tea stood at USD 4.10 million. In the same year, vegetable exports earned 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 indicates growing overseas demand for betel leaves. In fiscal year 2020–2021, betel leaf exports amounted to USD 8.09 million, which increased to USD 21.45 million in 2024–2025. 

Additionally, in the last fiscal year, exports of vegetable fats and oils earned 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 of Bangladesh’s agricultural exports shows that these products are exported to more than 130 countries, with India being the largest destination. In fiscal year 2024–2025, agricultural exports to India amounted to USD 211.47 million, while exports to Saudi Arabia reached USD 114.03 million.
Moreover, Bangladeshi agricultural products have strong demand in markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Malaysia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

 In the last fiscal year, exports to these countries amounted to USD 74 million, USD 70 million, USD 51 million, USD 41 million, and USD 48 million, respectively. Export market analysis further shows that demand for Bangladeshi agricultural products is also increasing in Oman, the Philippines, Qatar, China, and Canada.