Bangladesh’s shrimp production has experienced a significant decline, with exports from Khulna dropped from 24,100 metric tons (MT) to 19,900 MT in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, down falling from 39,706 MT in 2016-2017.  The reason behind is the decrease in brackish water sources, virus attacks, drought conditions with lower rainfall, higher temperatures farmers’ unwillingness to adopt modern methods, and the inability to obtain disease-free fries.
The situation is aggravate by higher feed costs, a 24% drop in global demand for shrimp, and reduced purchases from Ukraine and Russia due to territorial conflicts. Bangladesh’s shrimp exports, which averaged over 30,000 MT between 2016 and 2020, have collapsed to just 13,592 MT halfway through the current fiscal year.
Despite these challenges, there is hope in the expansion of vannamei shrimp farming and an increase in mud crab and eel exports. Mud eels, locally known as “cuchia” have gained popularity in China, offering a significant export potential. Crab farming has also seen success, particularly in Southeast Asia and China, presenting opportunities for foreign earnings. These diversification efforts aim to support the country’s seafood industry and offset the decline in shrimp production.
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