Bangladesh is set to begin exporting mangoes to China at the start of June, and a trade agreement between the two countries is expected to be signed soon. China's ambassador in Dhaka, Yao Wen, discussed mango exports during a courtesy meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin on Sunday (18 May), when they talked about the interest in exports and the agreement.
In 2019 Bangladesh applied for approval to export mangoes and some other farm products to China, but for reasons including the coronavirus pandemic the mangoes did not go. Six years later, the effort is about to succeed.
Exporters say mango exports to China will open a new horizon and could also open the way for jackfruit and litchi. The bilateral talks have given exporters fresh hope. Experts say that if mangoes are produced to the right quality, China could become a huge market for Bangladesh thanks to low transport costs.
Cheaper freight
Exporters say it currently costs Tk 350-380 a kg to send fruit to Europe and Tk 200-220 to the Middle East, but only Tk 70-85 a kg to China.
Mohammad Arifur Rahman, director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) project on export-quality mango production, believes Bangladesh is "ready" to export mangoes. He said Bangladeshi mangoes are better in quality and taste than those of other countries, which will give them an edge in China. China Southern Airlines has offered special cargo for mangoes, he said, adding that he hoped exports to China would open a new horizon.
Chinese delegations have visited Bangladesh several times over taking mangoes and have long been positive about it.
Falling exports
According to the DAE, Bangladesh produced 24 lakh tonnes of mangoes in 2023-24, of which only 1,321 tonnes were exported. In 2022-23, 3,100 tonnes were exported, and in 2020-21, 1,757 tonnes. The report says exports are falling every year.
Last year mangoes were exported from Bangladesh to 21 countries, including the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Italy and Singapore, along with several others in the Middle East and Europe. In the previous financial year, mangoes went to 36 countries.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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