The Benapole land port in Jashore exported 13,742 tonnes of domestic fish in the 2024-25 fiscal year, valued at Tk 470.62 crore ($38.35 million), marking a 78% surge in volume and a 51% jump in foreign exchange earnings compared to the previous year.
The growth underscores Bangladesh’s rising clout in global fisheries, ranked third in the world for fish production, and signals strong regional demand, particularly from India, which absorbed nearly all exports via this key western land port.
Export boom amid structural constraints
Despite the impressive figures, traders and officials warn that logistical bottlenecks threaten to cap further growth. Export documentation, including quarantine and customs clearance, must still be processed 85 kilometres away in Khulna, causing delays that risk spoilage of highly perishable goods like Hilsa and freshwater fish.
“Every hour counts with fresh fish,” said Aminul Haque, Vice President of the Benapole Import-Export Association. “If we can complete export formalities right here in Benapole, we could easily double our volumes next year. Legal and infrastructural support is now critical.”
Of the 13,742 tonnes exported via Benapole in FY25, 13,210 tonnes were freshwater fish, while 532 tonnes of Hilsa, mostly shipped ahead of Durga Puja, fetched premium prices in Indian markets.
National context: Surplus fuels export surge
Domestically, Bangladesh produced 5.02 million tonnes of fish in FY25 comfortably exceeding the national demand of 4.8 million tonnes for its 170 million people. This surplus has turned the country into a growing exporter, with total fish and fish product exports reaching 91,000 tonnes (Tk 5,145 crore) in FY25, of which Benapole accounted for over 15%.
Compared to FY24, when Benapole exported 8,292 tonnes (Tk 312.51 crore / $25.47 million), this year’s performance reflects a 5,450-tonne volume increase and an additional USD 12.88 million in forex earnings.
Officials pledge support, traders eye growth
Sajib Saha, Quarantine Officer at Benapole Port, confirmed the 50% YoY growth and said authorities are “actively working to enhance cold-chain logistics, documentation efficiency, and inspection capacity” to support expanding trade.
Meanwhile, local fisheries officers have pledged “all possible cooperation” to exporters, from facilitating faster clearances to coordinating with Indian counterparts on seasonal demand spikes.
Traders remain optimistic: with streamlined processes and on-site facilities, Benapole could emerge as Bangladesh’s premier fish export gateway to South Asia, turning logistical headaches into hard currency gains.