Frozen foods cross export target

The country's frozen foods sector has created a new record crossing the export target boosted by price hike for shrimp in global market following scarcity of vennamie shrimp in last fiscal year (FY).
The exporters exported frozen foods worth US$ 638.19 million during July to June in FY 2013-14 against the target of $ 578.77 million, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data.
Earlier, the country exported frozen foods worth $ 611.36 million in fiscal year 2010-11 which is the second highest ever export earning from this sector.
Last year, the price of 31-40 count shrimp was $7.0 and the price of 16-20 count shrimp was US$ 9.50 per pound due to supply shortage of vennamie in the global market.
Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association (BFFEA) President Md Amin Ullah told the FE: "It is an achievement for us which happened due to high price of shrimp in global market and most of our products are now value added."
"The price of different type of shrimps is around $ 2.0 per pound higher than the previous year. On the other hand, five years back the ratio of traditional and value added frozen food items was 50:50 but now the ratio is 20:80," he said.
"Russian market reopening for all Bangladeshi frozen foods this year has also help to achieve 17 per cent export growth than FY 2012-13," Mr Amin said.
"Besides, BFFEA is working on how to increase the production of shrimp and introducing semi-intensive culture system. For this reason Department of Fisheries and the central bank, and concerned authorities have to work jointly," he added.
Around 4,500 kgs of shrimp were produced on a hectare of land in Cox's Bazar applying the semi-intensive culture system while 1,500 kgs of shrimp per hectare applying the improved extensive culture system in the same district, he said.
The association has taken a pilot project on 5 hectare land in Khuruskul area of Cox's Bazar Sadar in January, 2014.
Mahmudul Karim, a shrimp expert said: "The total amount of shrimp export in 2013-14 fiscal year (FY) was 47,635.41tonnes while the amount was 50,333 tonnes in 2012-13 FY."
"The global market price of shrimp is showing upward trend since last one and half years. Though country exporting less amounts of shrimp than the previous FY, mainly because of higher price shrimp export set a new record."  
Regarding the export amount, Mr Karim said: "It is not expected. The amount of shrimp production should be enhanced. But we have not seen any coordinated effort for shrimp production yet."
Belgium imported shrimp worth US$ 107.84 million from Bangladesh, United Kingdom US$ 105.53 million, Netherlands US$ 84.3 million, Germany US$ 67.80 million, USA US$ 55.0 million, Switzerland US$ 44.0 million, France US$ 32.5 million, Russia US$ 19.30 million, Japan US$ 19.2 million and KSA US$ 10.0 million, according to EPB.