Market diversification and reducing supply chain costs headline Bangladesh’s export development efforts
The Bangladeshi mango industry has identified Japan as its next export opportunity as it looks to grow exports.
According to a report from Daily Sun, a Japanese trade delegation toured mango orchards in the Rajshahi region at the end of June during a trip arranged by the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka.
Importers and business representatives visited GAP-certified Fruits Museum Agro Farm in Bondhupara and examined grading facilities, sorting lines, packaging operations and treatment centres across the region.
“Japan has enormous demand for mangoes,” one delegate visitor told the Daily Sun. “We are evaluating every stage of Bangladesh’s export system on behalf of our importers and traders. If everything meets our requirements, Japan will import a large volume.”
Fruits Museum Agro Farm owner Raihan Siddiq noted Bangladesh already exported to several markets that maintained high standards, including
Europe, the Middle East and China, where Bangladesh made its first mango shipment last year.
“Japan is next,” he said. “If we can export there, farmers across Bangladesh will benefit significantly.”
The industry has invested in upgrading its supply chain to support exports; a Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) facility – a mandatory quarantine requirement for fresh mango exports to Japan – is now operational in Dhaka. However, industry stakeholders admit further improvements, such as expanding cold-chain infrastructure and strengthening post-harvest handling systems, are needed to fuel export growth.
In the meantime, the government has advocated on behalf of exporters to reduce logistics costs.
Ministry of Agriculture has asked Biman Bangladesh Airlines to cut air freight charges by around 50 per cent on its Malaysia route after exporters secured a confirmed order for 100 tonnes.
It would mark Bangladesh’s first mango shipment to Malaysia for the season and a reduction could also influence other carriers to follow suit. The Ministry said that if prices on the Malaysian route were reduced, it would then turn its attention to others, such as Europe.
We have requested Biman to reduce the freight charge significantly. We are not proposing a specific rate, but we expect a reduction of around 50 per cent to support exporters,” A senior agriculture ministry official told Daily Sun.
Bangladesh exported 2,188 tonnes of mango in 2025 and has shipped around 1,075 tonnes this year, with approximately one-and-a-half months remaining in the export season.
