Tk 316 Crore Fish Imports Surge into Market
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Fish imports from India and Myanmar have increased significantly in Bangladesh, continuing a long-standing trend of foreign fish replacing locally produced varieties in consumer markets. With prices of domestic pond and commercial farm fish remaining high, imported cold-stored and ice-preserved rohu, catla, mrigel, and pangash are increasingly dominating the market.
In the first four months of 2026, imports of these four fish varieties reached a record level of nearly 3,000 tons. The customs-assessed value of these imports stood at Tk 316 crore. During the same period in 2025, imports of the same category were valued at around Tk 190 crore, marking an increase of nearly 66% year-on-year.
There is a noticeable difference in taste between fresh local fish and imported frozen varieties, similar to the gap in their prices.
The upward trend in imports is evident in April, when more than 1 million kilograms of rohu and catla entered the country. From January to March, monthly imports ranged between 600,000 and 700,000 kilograms.
Chattogram-based importer Ruhul Kabir attributed the rising presence of imported fish in the market to high domestic prices and supply shortages.
“Locally produced fish remain expensive, and supply does not meet demand throughout the year. As a result, imported fish have captured a significant share of the market,” he said.
Fish trader Ruhul Kabir from Fishery Ghat added that imported fish are also helping stabilize prices in the market.
There is a wide price gap between imported and local fish. Imported pangash sells at around Tk 160 per kilogram, while local varieties cost about Tk 220. Rohu and catla are priced at Tk 250–280 per kilogram depending on size, while local rohu and catla often sell at nearly double that rate, ranging between Tk 400 and Tk 480 per kilogram.
Bangladesh mainly imports these fish from India and Myanmar. From India’s Andhra Pradesh, fish are transported by truck to Kolkata in West Bengal and then enter Bangladesh through land ports such as Benapole, Bhomra, and Sonamasjid. The fish arrive in refrigerated covered vans packed in ice. From Myanmar, fish are transported by trawlers directly to Fishery Ghat in Chattogram and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar.