Potato exports from Bangladesh have already risen fourfold in the current fiscal year, reaching 50,000 tonne in between July and April, up from 12,300 tonne in FY 2024.
This dramatic rise is attributed to robust domestic production and growing demand on Asian markets. The Bangladesh Potato Exporters Association expects that exports will exceed 70,000 tonne by the end of the season.
Arif Azad, a vegetable exporter, said the export boom is largely due to strong domestic yields and a significant fall in potato prices on the local markets compared to the production costs. "Exporters are sourcing quality potatoes from Rangpur and Munshiganj for Tk 40 per kg, down from Tk 80-90 last year."
Retail prices of table potatoes have now dropped to Tk 20-30 a kg throughout the country-the lowest in three years, according to the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM).
Azad said that increasing global demand, the development of new potato varieties, and slightly reduced cargo fares have further supported this year's export growth. Regional tensions have shifted a considerable portion of export orders from India and Pakistan to Bangladesh, providing a strategic advantage to local exporters, he added.
Md Sabbir, proprietor of Sana Trading, said the steep fall in domestic potato prices has enhanced Bangladesh's competitiveness on the global market. "Importing countries are experiencing high demand for potatoes this year. Shipping costs have dropped, with potatoes being exported at $300 per tonne. The high dollar exchange rate is also encouraging exporters," he said.
He estimates that an additional 20,000 tonnes of potatoes will be exported this season, while shipments to Malaysia are expected to continue for another month and to Nepal until July.
About the 'Sunshine' potato variety, commercially produced by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) since last year, he said, "This variety has become very popular and favourite on the export markets for its attractive size and colour."
An official from the Plant Quarantine Wing of the agriculture ministry said the government has arranged BRTC trucks to transport potatoes to ports, reducing logistics costs from Tk 40,000 to Tk 25,000, substantially benefiting exporters.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladeshi potatoes are shipped to 14 countries, while Malaysia accounts for about 80 per cent of total shipments. Other key destinations include Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and some Middle Eastern countries. Although Russia was once a major market, exports there have declined.
EPB data show that potato export earnings peaked in FY 2014 at over $33 million (0.106 million tonne). Since then, exports have dwindled until the recent recovery.
Bangladesh is the world's seventh-largest potato producer. However, last year the country had to import potatoes for the first time due to a domestic shortfall. In between July and November, local prices soared to Tk 70-90 a kg, prompting scrutiny of official production figures.
While the government reported 10.9 million tonne, the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association claimed it was only 8.8 million tonne.
This year, the government projects an all-time high output-11 million tonne, said Saiful Islam, director general of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
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