Fish & Seafood

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Seafood Exports – Led by Shrimps

Bangladesh’s fish and seafood sector is very important for the country, the livelihood of some 17.8 million people (11% of the total population) is connected to the sector, of which more than 1.4 million are women. Less than 3% of total fish production in Bangladesh is exported. This is not to say that the exports are small, on the contrary Bangladesh is one of the top 10 suppliers in the world of frozen shrimp primarily destined for the EU and the United States.

 

Frozen shrimps is what puts Bangladesh seafood on the world map. A total of 76 fish processing plants have been approved by the European Union.  About 40% of wild shrimp and 95% of cultured shrimp produced in Bangladesh are exported. The two main exported cultured species are Black Tiger shrimp or Giant Tiger Prawn (Penaeus monodon) and Giant River Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). The two main exported wild species are Speckled shrimp (Metapenaeus. monoceros) and Indian White shrimp (Penaeus indicus). For cultured shrimp, which represents the largest part of shrimp exports, Black Tiger shrimp contributes the largest share of production.

 

The total value of Bangladeshi shrimp exports in 2020/21 was almost USD329m. The EU was the most important market, accounting for 75% of the total export value. Shrimp export is both in frozen and canned form. Canned shrimps are destined for the United States and EU markets.

 

Besides shrimp, Bangladesh also exports a significant quantity of frozen crab amounting US$12.3 million in 2020/21 destined for China, the United States, and other parts of Asia and Australia.

 

Fish Exports 

In 2020/21 the total value of frozen fish exports amounted to USD40m. Diaspora markets like United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia are important destinations. Exported fish species are a variety of captured fish of which the most well known is the hilsha shad (Hilsha ilisha). Leading farm cultured species with the highest export potential are pangasius (Pangasius Hypophthalmus) and tilapia (Oreochromis spp.). Pangasius makes up 18% of aquaculture production, but still has some way to go in terms of organising and certifying production for export.

 

Leading Exporters

  • Ark Sea Foods Ltd
  • Satkhira Foods Ltd
  • Mashud Fish Proc. & Ice Complex Ltd
  • Aman Sea Food Ind. Ltd
  • Mahi Fish Processing Ltd
  • Jahanabad Sea Foods Ltd
  • Apex Foods Ltd
  • Modern Seafood Ind. Ltd.

 

Food Safety Assurance

The export sector is well set up in terms of food safety, exporters are certified under a wide range of quality assurance schemes including ASC, BRC, MSC, HACCP, BAP- Processing Plant, BAP – Shrimp farm, Halal, Migros.

 

Relevant Institutions

  • Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock
  • Department of Fisheries
  • Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association