Shipments of vegetables to Bangladesh’s main export markets have come to a standstill due to the suspension of air transport. As a result exporters, farmers and related traders are in uncertainty. Apart from vegetables, Bangladesh’s exports of agricultural produce, agro-processed food and frozen fish are virtually suspended. Biscuits, noodles, fruit drinks, parathas, fragrant rice, chanachur and other agricultural products cannot be sent abroad now.
Exporters say the airspace of many Middle Eastern countries has been partially or completely closed since Iran’s conflict with the US and Israel escalated. As a result, no vegetables can be sent to important destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain from February 28. If the crisis lasts longer, Bangladesh’s share in the Middle East vegetable market may be taken over by traders from competing countries.
According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, vegetables worth 57.7 million dollars were exported in the first eight months (July-February) of the current financial year 2025-26. These exports are 26 percent higher than the same period last fiscal. However, exports fell by 38 percent in February compared to the same period last year. In the first eight months of the last financial year, vegetables worth 45.8 million dollars were exported. In the fiscal year 2024-25, vegetables worth eight million dollars were exported from Bangladesh. Out of this, 1 crore 1.6 million dollars went to Saudi Arabia, 9.9 million dollars to UAE, 4.1 million dollars to Qatar, 3.1 million dollars to Kuwait. Apart from this, vegetables worth 1.55 million dollars have been exported to UK, 3.6 million dollars to Italy and 2.3 million dollars to Canada.
It is known that during the winter season, 35 to 40 tons of vegetables are exported from Bangladesh per day. About 40 percent of these destinations are Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. Apart from this, vegetables are exported to various countries including UK, France, Italy, Canada, USA. At present 180 exporters regularly export vegetables. Besides vegetables, these traders also export seasonal fruits.
However, due to the war situation, there are limited flights to Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah and Medina, but not to the capital Riyadh. But Riyadh is the biggest vegetable market in Bangladesh. Apart from this, several major international airlines including Qatar Airways, Emirates Airlines have suspended many of their flights. This has made it more difficult to send goods to various destinations in the Middle East and Europe.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters Association Mohammad Mansoor said, now few products are going to Toronto, United Kingdom and Rome in Italy – these three destinations. Exports to almost all other markets have stopped. In this, the export of goods worth about one and a half million dollars per day is stopped. He also said that local vegetable production in Middle Eastern countries decreases during summer. As a result, exports from Bangladesh increased four to five times during that time.
Sources at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport said that many flights to the Middle East have been canceled due to the conflict. 39 flights from Dhaka to various destinations in the Middle East were canceled on Monday alone. Earlier, 23 flights were canceled on Saturday and 40 flights were canceled on Sunday. In other words, 102 flights were canceled in three days. The destinations of most of these flights were Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Due to the sudden stoppage of flights, many exporters’ products were stuck at the airport and spoiled.
Chittagong-based Green World Impact took about a tonne of fresh vegetables to Shah Amanat International Airport last Saturday morning to send them to Dubai. However, the shipment could not be sent due to flight cancellation. In the end, the products were damaged and there was a loss of about 1,200 dollars.
The owner of the company, Mohammad Mahbub Rana, said that fresh fruits and vegetables worth about two and a half million dollars are exported from Chittagong every day. Most of the products were destroyed after the flight was cancelled. New challan also cannot be prepared due to uncertainty.
According to former president of Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association Kabir Ahmed, more than 1,200 tons of cargo were stuck at Dhaka airport in early March. Cargo flights from Dhaka have not yet fully started. As a result vegetable exporters are struggling to ship the produce. A few operators are operating a limited range of flights. Some exporters have now started sending products via China, Malaysia and Hong Kong to reach markets in Europe and the US, but this increases time and costs. Biman Bangladesh Airlines is transporting goods from Dhaka to Rome, Canada and UK. However, from March 5, Biman has increased the fare of cargo bound for Europe and the United States by 50 cents per kg.
Emirates, an important airline for the export of Bangladeshi products, said in a statement that all flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until March 4. Only limited repatriation and cargo services will continue. Other airlines have reduced the number of flights or are avoiding the region entirely.
Times BD/RA
