Exports of Hilsa to India dip despite robust output

Despite achieving record Hilsa production in recent years, Bangladesh is witnessing a sharp decline in exports of the prized fish to India, its largest foreign market, official data show.

According to figures from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Hilsa exports to India stood at just U$5.37 million in the fiscal year 2024-25. This marks a dramatic fall from the peak of $16.43 million recorded in FY2020-21.

The export value has been decreasing steadily over the last three fiscal years -- falling to $12.27 million in FY2021-22, $12.83 million in FY2022-23, $7.09 million in FY2023-24, and further down to $5.37 million in FY2024-25.

This decline comes despite a boom in Hilsa production in Bangladesh.

Department of Fisheries data show that Hilsa output reached 571,342 tonnes in FY2022-23, a significant rise from 351,223 tonnes in FY2012-13. The growth has been attributed to government conservation efforts, including the establishment of sanctuaries, fishing bans during spawning seasons, and awareness programmes among fishing communities.

So why are exports plummeting even as production hits record highs?

Experts and sector insiders point to several contributing factors: rising domestic consumption, stringent export permit processes, increased logistics costs, and inconsistent trade policies with India.

An EPB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "India, especially West Bengal, remains a highly attractive market during major religious festivals. But our traders face too many uncertainties with policy enforcement and export permits, which discourages consistent shipments."

He added that traders often struggle to plan their exports in the absence of a year-round export policy, facing uncertainty over when or whether permits will be issued.

Hilsa has long carried cultural and diplomatic significance in Bangladesh-India relations. In recent years, the Bangladesh government has allowed limited-time exports of Hilsa to India, typically around Durga Puja, as a gesture of goodwill.

However, analysts argue that such symbolic exports fail to support sustainable commercial trade. "Hilsa diplomacy may serve short-term political gains, but it doesn't help traders or exporters build stable cross-border supply chains," said a senior official at a leading fisheries exporter.

Experts suggest the government should adopt a predictable and structured export framework for Hilsa. They propose long-term planning that includes proper cold chain logistics, stable trade agreements, and continuous monitoring of fish stock to prevent overexploitation.

Hilsa is not just a cultural icon - it's also a cornerstone of Bangladesh's fisheries sector. The fish contributes about 12 per cent of total fish production and over 1.0 per cent to the country's GDP. A robust export strategy could unlock greater economic and diplomatic potential, stakeholders say.

Production grows nearly 148% in 25 years

Over the last two and a half decades, Hilsa production in Bangladesh has soared by nearly 148 per cent. From 210,000 tonnes in FY1999-2000, output reached 520,000 tonnes in FY2023-24 - despite a drop from the 571,000 tonnes recorded the previous year.

This recent 8.77 per cent decline is attributed to adverse weather and illegal fishing during the ban period, according to Dr Mohammad Abu Kawsar Didar, scientific officer at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute in Chandpur.

He said many fishers avoided going to sea or rivers due to poor weather during the key fishing months of July to December last year. "As a result, we saw a shortfall of around 40,000 tonnes from the average annual Hilsa catch," Dr Didar noted.

Moreover, non-compliance with fishing bans imposed to protect breeding fish further hurt production. In FY2024, a 22-day ban was enforced from October 12 to November 2 to safeguard mother Hilsa during peak spawning season. Violations of this ban contributed to the decline in catch volume.

Another challenge lies in environmental degradation, particularly along key Hilsa migration corridors.

Shallow river depths have hampered the fish's natural movement through the Meghna-Tetulia, Payra-Bishkhali, and Sundarbans regions. Hilsa typically prefer water depths above five metres, but in many areas, the depth has dropped to just two to three metres, disrupting migration and breeding patterns.

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