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TL;DR
- Bangladesh exported 459 tons of ilish to India through Benapole Land Port over several days, with the latest shipment of 69 tons on Tuesday.
- The export price of ilish is $10 per kg, significantly lower than local market prices, leading to a price discrepancy.
- The ilish export policy has been in place for years, but there are calls to adjust prices to match domestic rates.
- The export is part of a larger agreement to ship 3,000 tonnes of hilsa to India for cultural festivities like Durga Puja.
Bangladesh has recently exported 459 tons of ilish fish to India through the Benapole Land Port, marking a significant trade activity between the two countries. This export was conducted over several days, with the most recent shipment involving 69 tons transported in 23 trucks on Tuesday. Prior shipments included 89 tons in 30 trucks on Monday, 19 tons in six trucks on Sunday, and 45 tons in 15 trucks on Saturday evening.
The export price for ilish is set at $10 per kilogram, which is approximately Tk1,180. However, this price is notably lower than the domestic market price. Ataur Rahman, a buyer at the Benapole fish market, noted that ilish weighing less than one kilogram was sold for Tk1,300 to Tk1,500, while larger fish fetched prices between Tk1,800 to Tk2,000. This discrepancy means that ilish exported to India is priced Tk600 to Tk800 less than what local buyers pay.
Aswadul, an officer from the Fish Inspection and Quality Control Center of the Department of Fisheries at Benapole land port, mentioned that the ilish export circular has been in place for several years. He suggested that prices could be adjusted to align more closely with domestic market rates.
Rashedul Sajib Nazir, Deputy Director of Benapole Land Port, confirmed that a total of 459 metric tons of ilish have been exported over nine days. This activity reflects Bangladesh’s ongoing trade relationship with India concerning ilish fish, which is highly demanded in West Bengal during cultural festivities such as Durga Puja.
In a broader context, Bangladesh had approved the export of 3,000 tonnes of hilsa to India for the Durga Puja festival. This decision came after several requests from exporters and was seen as a gesture of goodwill towards India. Despite a previous ban on hilsa exports to ensure adequate supply in local markets, the government relaxed restrictions during this period due to diplomatic efforts and high demand from Indian traders.
The demand for Bangladeshi hilsa remains high both domestically and internationally. In fiscal year 2023-24, Bangladesh exported 664.86 tonnes of hilsa to India, generating revenue of $7.71 million. The country’s total production of hilsa was reported at 571,342 tonnes in fiscal year 2022-23.
Overall, the export of ilish fish from Bangladesh to India underscores the economic and cultural ties between the two nations and highlights the challenges and opportunities in balancing domestic supply with international demand.
