Bangladesh is experiencing a remarkable surge in potato exports during the current fiscal year (FY 2025). Exports have already risen fourfold, reaching 50,000 tonnes between July and April. This represents a significant increase from the 12,300 tonnes exported in the entirety of FY 2024. The Bangladesh Potato Exporters Association is optimistic, expecting that total exports will exceed 70,000 tonnes by the end of the season.
This dramatic increase is attributed to a confluence of favourable factors. A primary driver is the robust domestic production and strong yields this year. This has led to a significant fall in potato prices on local markets compared to production costs. According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), retail prices for table potatoes have dropped to Tk 20-30 per kilogramme nationwide, marking the lowest prices seen in three years. Exporters are reportedly sourcing quality potatoes from regions like Rangpur and Munshiganj for Tk 40 per kg, a substantial decrease from the Tk 80-90 range observed last year.
The steep fall in domestic prices has directly enhanced Bangladesh’s competitiveness on the global market. Adding to this is increasing global demand and reports that importing countries are experiencing high demand this year. Regional tensions have also played a role, diverting a considerable portion of export orders from India and Pakistan to Bangladesh, thereby providing a strategic advantage to local exporters.
Logistical and financial factors have further supported the export boom. Shipping costs have dropped, with potatoes being exported at approximately $300 per tonne. Slightly reduced overall cargo fares have also contributed positively. Furthermore, the high dollar exchange rate is encouraging exporters. The government has also stepped in to reduce logistics costs; the agriculture ministry’s Plant Quarantine Wing has arranged BRTC trucks to transport potatoes to ports, cutting costs from Tk 40,000 to Tk 25,000, which substantially benefits exporters.
The development and adoption of new potato varieties have also played a part in the export growth. The ‘Sunshine’ variety, commercially produced by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) since last year, has become particularly popular and favoured on export markets due to its attractive size and colour.
Bangladeshi potatoes are currently shipped to 14 countries. Malaysia accounts for approximately 80 per cent of total shipments, making it the dominant destination. Other key markets include Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and some Middle Eastern countries. While Russia was once a major market, exports there have declined. Md Sabbir, proprietor of Sana Trading, estimates an additional 20,000 tonnes will be exported this season, with shipments expected to continue to Malaysia for another month and to Nepal until July.
This recent recovery follows a period of decline since export earnings peaked in FY 2014 at over $33 million, representing 0.106 million tonnes. Exports had dwindled in subsequent years until the current surge. It’s worth noting that Bangladesh, the world’s seventh-largest potato producer, had to import potatoes for the first time last year due to a domestic shortfall. This was accompanied by soaring local prices, reaching Tk 70-90 per kg between July and November, and scrutiny over official production figures, with the government reporting 10.9 million tonnes while the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association claimed only 8.8 million tonnes.
This year presents a stark contrast, with the government projecting an all-time high output of 11 million tonnes, according to Saiful Islam, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). This robust production underpins the current export success and points towards a potentially strong year for the sector.
