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Hortex Supported Export Growth of Fruits, Vegetables, Potato and other Agro-commodities in Bangladesh

Present Government of Bangladesh is attaching high importance for the production and export of high value agro-commodities especially horticultural crops through diversification of produces and market promotion. About 100 types of fresh horticultural crops are being exported from Bangladesh to more than 40 countries in the world. Export of fresh fruits and vegetables from Bangladesh are significantly increased from $51million in FY2008-09 to $125million in FY2015-16. However, the export value in FY2015-16 decreased 12% over the previous FY2014-15 (Table-1). In FY2015-16, vegetables export market to 38 countries comprises Middle East 62.05% (Saudi Arabia 24.70%, Qatar 15.04%, UAE 9.55%, Kuwait 9.21%, Bahrain 3.55%), EU countries 14.59% (UK 11.86%, Italy 2.73%), Malaysia 11.48%, Singapore 3.93% and others 7.95%. On the other hand, fruits are being exported from Bangladesh to 15 countries. Fresh potato export is also significantly increased from $0.68million in FY2008-09 to $10.06million in FY2015-16. Hortex Foundation had direct and indirect role in these export achievements. Hortex Foundation facilitates export of high value horticultural crops and processed agro-commodities in the mainstream market of EU, Middle East, Far East in addition to ethnic markets. Some requirements to enter into mainstream market are adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), traceability system, strict compliance of sanitary & phyto-sanitary measures including good packaging.

Table 1: Export growth of fresh fruits and vegetables in Bangladesh

Fiscal YearQuantity Exported (MT)Export Value (in Million US$)Export Growth (%)
2008-092467050.71 
2009-102937064.21(+) 26.62
2009-102937064.21(+) 26.62
2010-1148428109.41(+) 70.39
2011-1259573*134.59(+) 23.01
2012-1380660*182.23(+) 35.39
2013-1492679*209.38(+) 14.89
2014-1562730*141.72(-) 32.31
2015-1655138*124.57(-) 12.10

Source: NBR, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), 2016 and Data Analysis by Hortex Foundation, 2016
Note: *Export quantity of fresh fruits & vegetables estimated by Hortex Foundation as per average export value of fruits and vegetables @2259.23
US$/MT in FY2010-11 due to export quantity data is not available since FY2011-12 from EPB

Table-1 reveals that export quantity and value of fresh fruits and vegetables are in decreasing trend from FY2014-2015 due to restriction in EU countries on some fruits and vegetables including self ban by the Government of Bangladesh. The major causes of restrictions are (i) not complying with the phytosanitary requirement of importing countries, (ii) presence of quarantine harmful organisms in fruits, vegetables, betel leaves, (iii) presence of brown rot bacterial agent (Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al.) and potato tuber moth in potato; (iv) absence of product integrity, (v) documentary reasons i.e. modification of Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) and, sometimes absence of PC during export from Bangladesh.

Table-02: Export performance of fresh vegetables during FY2008-2009 to FY2015-2016

Fiscal year (FY)Quantity exported (MT)Export growth on quantity (%)Export value (million US$)Export growth on value (%)
2008-200922791 44.67 
2009-201023959(+) 05.1246.84(+) 04.86
2010-201136672(+) 53.0671.73(+) 53.14
2011-201239586*(+) 07.9577.43(+) 07.95
2012-201356411*(+) 42.50110.34(+) 42.50
2013-201475435*(+) 33.72147.55(+) 33.72
2014-201552781*(-) 30.03103.24(-) 30.03
2015-201653344*(+) 1.06104.34(+) 1.06

Source: NBR, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) 2016 & Data Analysis by Mitul 2016, Hortex Foundation
Note: *Quantity estimated by Hortex Foundation as per average export price of vegetables @ 1956 US$/ MT on
FY2010-11 due to export quantity data is not available since FY2011-12 from EPB

Table-03: Top ten export markets of Bangladeshi fresh vegetables in FY2015-16

Export marketExport value (million US$)Percent (%) share of total export valueRanking of partner countries in world imports (in 2015)*Share of partner countries in world imports in 2015(%)*Tariff (estimated) faced by Bangladesh (%)*
1. Saudi Arabia25.7724.702112.4
2. Qatar15.7015.04440.42.4
3. UK12.3811.8636.30
4. Malaysia11.9811.48161.31.1
5. UAE9.969.55n/an/an/a
6. Kuwait9.619.2136152.4
7. Singapore4.103.93290.80
8. Bahrain3.703.55640.22.4
9. Italy2.852.73122.50
10. Saint Barthelemy2.112.02n/an/an/a
Total 10 countries98.1694.07   
Other 28 countries6.185.93   
All 38 countries104.34100.00   

Source: NBR, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) & Data Analysis by Mitul 2016, Hortex Foundation, Dhaka
Note: *Data analysis from ITC Trade Map 2015, Geneva, Switzerland
n/a: data is not available

Table-04: Export performance of fresh fruits during FY2008-2009 to FY2015-2016

Fiscal year (FY)Quantity exported (MT)Export growth on quantity (%)Export value (million US $)Export growth on value (%)
2008-20095204 16.67 
2009-20105411(+) 4.0017.37(+) 3.83
2010-201111757(+) 117.2637.68(+) 116.92
2011-201217835*(+) 51.6957.16(+) 51.69
2012-201322431*(+) 25.7771.89(+) 25.77
2013-201419292*(-) 13.9961.83(-) 13.99
2014-201512006*(-) 37.7634.48(-) 37.76
2015-20166312*(-) 47.4220.23(-) 41.32

Source: NBR, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) 2016 & Data Analysis by Mitul 2016, Hortex Foundation
Note: *Quantity estimated by Hortex Foundation as per average export price of fruits @ 3205 $/MT on FY2010-11 due to export quantity data is not available since FY2011-12 from EPB

Table-05: Top ten export markets of Bangladeshi fresh fruits in FY2015-16

Export marketExport value (million US$)Percent (%) share of total export valueRanking of partner countries in world imports (in 2015)*Share of partner countries in world imports in 2015(%)*Tariff (estimated) faced by Bangladesh (%)*
1. India18.2490.16122.721.1
2. UK0.743.6535.50
3. Malaysia0.633.11340.65.9
4. Vietnam0.482.37152.117.4
5. Indonesia0.070.34330.66.7
6. Saudi Arabia0.030.14191.31.4
5. Indonesia0.070.34330.66.7
7. UAE0.0090.04n/an/an/a
8. Singapore0.00280.01300.60
9. Saint Barthelemy0.00270.01n/an/an/a
10. New Zealand0.00240.01460.30
Total 10 countries20.206999.84   
Other 5 countries (Canada, Germany, Japan, Myanmar and USA)0.02310.16   
All 15 countries20.23100   

Source: National Board of Revenue (NBR), EPB 2016 & Data Analysis by Mitul 2016, Hortex Foundation, Dhaka
Note: *Data analysis from ITC Trade Map 2015, Geneva, Switzerland
n/a: data is not available

Table-06: Export performance of fresh potato during FY2008-09 to FY2015-16

Fiscal year (FY)Quantity exported (MT)Export growth on quantity (%)Export value (million US$)Export growth on value (%)
2008-2009407 0.68 
2009-20109687(+) 2280.0903.45(+) 407
2010-201134891(+) 260.1815.98(+) 363
2011-201234232(-) 1.8808.50(-) 47
2012-201341830(+) 22.2010.93(+) 29
2013-2014103000(+) 146.2333.82(+) 210
2014-201594614(-) 8.1432.22(-) 4.73
2015-201640230(-) 57.4710.06(-) 68.78

Source: NBR, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) 2016, PQW of DAE 2016 & Data Analysis by Mitul 2016, Hortex Foundation

Table-07: Top 10 export markets of Bangladeshi fresh potato in FY2015-2016

Top 10 export marketsExport value (million US$)% of share of total export valueRanking of partner countries in world imports (in 2015)*Share of partner countries in world imports in 2015(%)*Tariff (estimated) faced by Bangladesh (%)*
1. Malaysia5.6456.06142.10
2.Singapore2.8728.52350.6n/a
3. UAE0.504.97n/an/an/a
4. SriLanka0.494.8722122.8
5. Saudi Arabia0.171.68260.90
6. Brunei Darussalam0.121.1912400
7.Indonesia0.090.89420.517.2
8.Myanmar0.060.59n/an/an/a
9. Oman0.030.29340.60
10.Vietnam0.010.18132.117.2
Top 10 total export markets9.9899.24   
Other export market (Maldives, UK, Kuwait, Qatar)0.080.76   
Total10.06100   

Source: NBR, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) 2016 & Data Analysis by Mitul 2016, Hortex Foundation, Dhaka
Note: *Data analysis from ITC Trade Map 2015, Geneva, Switzerland Bangladesh’s exports represent 0.46% of world exports for potato; its ranking in
world exports is 25
n/a: data is not available

Table-08: Export performance of cut flowers and foliage (HS Code 0603 & 0604)

Fiscal year (FY)Export value (million US$)Export growth on value (%)
2008-200933.67 
2009-201039.75(+) 18.05
2010-201142.89(+) 7.89
2011-201250.46(+) 17.64
2012-201341.41(-) 17.93
2013-201439.28(-) 5.14
2014-201511.36(-) 71.07
2015-20164.73(-) 58.36

Source: Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) 2016 & Data Analysis by Mitul 2016, Hortex Foundation, Dhaka

Table-9: Export value of cut flowers (HS code 0603) in Bangladesh

Fiscal Year (FY)Export value (in US$)Export growth (%)
2008-200910881 
2009-201015866(+) 45.81
2010-2011127489(+) 703.53
2011-201256161(-) 55.94
2012-201330107(-) 46.39
2013-201423993(-) 20.30
2014-2015203(-) 99.15
2015-20161531(+) 654.18

Source: Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) 2016 & Data Analysis by Mitul 2016, Hortex Foundation, Dhaka
Note: HS code 0603 – Cut flowers and flower buds for bouquets, fresh or dried

Table-10: Top 10 agro-processed products exported from Bangladesh in FY2014-2015

Top 10 agro-processed products exportedQuantity exported (MT)Export value (million US$)
1. Spices17082.4160.42
2. Juice37566.9537.85
3. Drinks42175.9929.00
4. Biscuits10146.3420.07
5. Chanachur6016.5512.28
6. Puffed rice6896.1211.21
7. Frozen snacks4353.378.68
8. Candy4204.377.40
9. Mustard oil3140.006.58
10. Frozen meat772.974.69
Total Top 10 products132355.10198.18
Other 34 products17142.625.97
Total149497.7224.15

Source: BAPA 2016 & Data Analysis by Mitul 2016, Hortex Foundation

Table-11: Top ten export markets of Bangladeshi agro-processed items in FY2014-2015

Top ten export marketsQuantity exported (MT)Export value (million US$)
1. UAE22727.34544.71
2. Saudi Arabia19771.69342.50
3. Malaysia16473.82422.49
4. India29995.12321.53
5. Oman9061.12512.40
6. Singapore4430.3111.91
7. United Kingdom4720.95110.07
8. USA4382.0448.98
9. Qatar4140.4996.47
10. Kuwait2656.394.99
Export to 10 countries118359.304186.05
Export to other 84 countries31138.4038.095
Total export to 94 countries149497.704224.145

Source: BAPA 2016 & Data Analysis by Mitul 2016, Hortex Foundation