Agro-processed food exporters expand market to Africa, US
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Mohammad Jubair Hasan
Exporters of US$ 250 million agro-processed foods said they are expanding their market to African countries and the United States at a time when the global economic recession is about to strike the sector.
Many of them have recently started exporting various agro-processed items to the African countries, like Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sudan, Benin, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Niger, Mauritania and South Africa tapping the huge demand there for the products.
The business begun primarily targeting the Bangladeshi diaspora, but it spread rapidly to the local communities due to the agro-processed foods lower price tags.
The country has also been exporting its products like juices, soft drinks, spices, pickles, chips, confectioneries, frozen vegetables and various dry and frozen snacks to various European countries, including United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain and the Gulf countries.
According to Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh (EPB) statistics, the export growth of agro-processed foods rose by 26.19 per cent in the July-March period of the ongoing fiscal year (FY) compared to the same period of the last FY.
In July-March period of the FY (2008-09), processed food exporters fetched $ 34.26 million, up from $ 27.15 million in the same period of the previous FY, the statistics said.
Pran Foods Ltd, the country's largest exporter, at first started exporting agro-processed items to Assam, a northern-eastern state of India, from 2002.
"We've started exporting such products to 37 African countries as we got positive response from the importers," Mr Mizan, chief of export division of Pran Foods Ltd, said.
Pran exported products worth Tk 220 million in April and has set a target of exporting Tk 300 million in May. "We are very much hopeful that we'll reach the target," he said.
Other exporters like BD Foods, Eurasia, Square Consumers and ACI are also planning market expansion in view of the ongoing global financial meltdown. These manufacturers are exporting around 25 per cent of their total production after meeting the domestic market demands.
An official of Al Amin group said they have recently started exporting biscuits to the United States in limited consignments.
Khorshid Ahmed Farhad, export manager of Square Consumers, said they are performing well in the North American countries, including the USA, and European countries just after entering the markets.
He said they exported products of Radhuni and Ruchi brands to only four countries three years ago and now they are exporting to 21 countries. "Our market is expanding to more countries in the North American region," he added.
Exporters of US$ 250 million agro-processed foods said they are expanding their market to African countries and the United States at a time when the global economic recession is about to strike the sector.
Many of them have recently started exporting various agro-processed items to the African countries, like Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sudan, Benin, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Niger, Mauritania and South Africa tapping the huge demand there for the products.
The business begun primarily targeting the Bangladeshi diaspora, but it spread rapidly to the local communities due to the agro-processed foods lower price tags.
The country has also been exporting its products like juices, soft drinks, spices, pickles, chips, confectioneries, frozen vegetables and various dry and frozen snacks to various European countries, including United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain and the Gulf countries.
According to Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh (EPB) statistics, the export growth of agro-processed foods rose by 26.19 per cent in the July-March period of the ongoing fiscal year (FY) compared to the same period of the last FY.
In July-March period of the FY (2008-09), processed food exporters fetched $ 34.26 million, up from $ 27.15 million in the same period of the previous FY, the statistics said.
Pran Foods Ltd, the country's largest exporter, at first started exporting agro-processed items to Assam, a northern-eastern state of India, from 2002.
"We've started exporting such products to 37 African countries as we got positive response from the importers," Mr Mizan, chief of export division of Pran Foods Ltd, said.
Pran exported products worth Tk 220 million in April and has set a target of exporting Tk 300 million in May. "We are very much hopeful that we'll reach the target," he said.
Other exporters like BD Foods, Eurasia, Square Consumers and ACI are also planning market expansion in view of the ongoing global financial meltdown. These manufacturers are exporting around 25 per cent of their total production after meeting the domestic market demands.
An official of Al Amin group said they have recently started exporting biscuits to the United States in limited consignments.
Khorshid Ahmed Farhad, export manager of Square Consumers, said they are performing well in the North American countries, including the USA, and European countries just after entering the markets.
He said they exported products of Radhuni and Ruchi brands to only four countries three years ago and now they are exporting to 21 countries. "Our market is expanding to more countries in the North American region," he added.