Bangladesh vegetable exports set to take off

The export of vegetables from Bangladesh seems poised to take off. According to a recent report, the…

The export of vegetables from Bangladesh seems poised to take off. According to a recent report, the country's vegetable shipments have achieved 100 percent growth in the July-August period of the current financial year.

In recent years, Bangladesh has been among some other Asian countries exporting vegetables to a number of European and Middle Eastern destinations. The countries also included Malaysia and Singapore. Thanks to Covid-19-related problems and last year's flooding, the export flows began slowing down. In one phase, the exports to its traditional destinations ground to a virtual halt. In its absence from the scene, Bangladesh's three rival exporting countries - India, Thailand and Vietnam - reaped the maximum benefit. Moreover, it was the lower airfreight charges in the three countries which had facilitated them to have an edge over Bangladesh.

Achieving the noticeable export growth in the July-August period of the 2021-22 FY, against the country's lacklustre performance last fiscal year, is indeed heartening. The exports had to undergo a 28pc decline in the last FY with traders making shipments of vegetables worth US$ 118 million. The exporters this FY saw a 102 pc growth in shipments compared to that in the corresponding period last fiscal year. The growth has been linked to an increase in the shipment of summer vegetables to EU countries, along with the UK, and the ME.