Vegetable, fruit, spice exports exceed $100m in Jul-Oct

Bangladesh's vegetables, fruits, and spices are showing a strong performance in foreign exchange earnings, having already crossed the $100 million export mark in the first four months of this fiscal year, say analysts.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the three promising agricultural products secured $102.48 million in export earnings during the July-October period of FY26, 64 per cent higher than that in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

Analysts and exporters are very optimistic about the earnings increasing in the near future as the demand for made-in-Bangladesh products in the Middle East and European markets is growing.

During the reporting period in FY25, Bangladeshi exporters shipped $62.35 million worth of vegetables, fruits, and spices, EPB data shows.

The earnings were $77.06 million and $27.47 million in the same period of FY24 and FY23, respectively.

Among the trio, the export income from fruits is showing a big prospect as it is growing at a faster pace.

Although vegetable earnings were volatile over the last four years, fruit exports maintained a steep rise.

Exporters earned a record $50.08 million by shipping different types of fruits, including mango and jackfruit, in the July-October period of FY26.

From only $0.18 million between July and October of FY23, fruit exports in that period went up to $5.06 million in FY24, before jumping to $21.35 million in FY25.

Meanwhile, vegetable exporters during July to October of FY23 shipped products worth $15.26 million, which soared to $55.95 million in that period of FY24.

However, the earnings dipped to $21.70 million in the same period of FY25, before rising to $31.94 million in that of the current fiscal year.

Spice export earnings in the July-October period were recorded at $12.03 million in FY23, $16.05 million in FY24, $19.30 million in FY25, and $20.46 million in FY26.

Mohammad Monsur, general secretary of the Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporter Association (BFVAPEA), tells The Financial Express exports have increased this fiscal year due mainly to the enhanced capacity of supply to overseas markets.

"Over the last couple of years, air freight charges remained higher. This year, it decreased to some extent. That has become a boon to exporters," he says.

"The overseas markets are ready. There is a huge demand for Bangladeshi fruits and vegetables in the European and Middle Eastern markets. If we get government facilities for air freight charges, our exports will rise further," he adds.

He requests the government to procure cargo aircraft for Biman Bangladesh that could facilitate the shipment of export goods.

Mansur also urges the formulation of an air freight policy so that every airline can carry Bangladeshi products at reasonable rates.

Additional Director of Research at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Towfiqul Islam Khan tells The Financial Express that Bangladesh needs to expand its agricultural productivity to boost export earnings.

If productivity rises, the local demand will be fulfilled and the export basket will widen, he says.

Bangladeshi agro producers as well as exporters should maintain quality and standards for export goods, he also says.

"If we can grow our agricultural product exports, the country as well as our local farmers will benefit," he adds.