The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has urged Biman Bangladesh Airlines to substantially reduce air freight charges for mango exports.
In a letter to the national flag carrier, it said lower transportation costs could help Bangladesh capitalise on the growing overseas demand for the fruit. Bangladeshi traders have received fresh orders for 100 tonnes of mangoes from Malaysia.
Officials say the agriculture ministry has requested a 50 per cent cut in freight charges from the current figure of Tk 580 per kg for exporting to Europe.
They hope the move will make Bangladeshi mangoes more competitive in the international market and encourage exporters to ship larger volumes during the remaining export season.
A senior official at the ministry says Malaysia has emerged as an immediate-priority export destination, followed by European markets, where the demand for safe and quality-certified Bangladeshi mangoes is increasing.
"We have requested Biman to lower freight charges significantly," he said, adding the ministry had not proposed a specific reduced rate, but a 50 per cent cut was sought.
He said exporters had already secured confirmed orders of around 100 tonnes of mangoes from Malaysia this season, while efforts were underway to expand shipments to Europe.
Bangladesh has been trying for years to diversify its agricultural exports beyond traditional destinations, with mango emerging as one of the most promising high-value horticultural products.
However, exporters have repeatedly identified expensive air freight and inadequate cargo space as the two biggest obstacles to expanding exports.
Project Director of the Production of Exportable Mangoes Project Ariful Rahman says Bangladesh exported about 1,075 tonnes of mangoes until Tuesday this season.
"There is still around one and a half months left before the season ends," he says. "It is difficult to estimate the final export volume because everything depends on buyers' demand. We are trying to export as much as possible."
He notes that freight cost is only one part of the challenge.
"The bigger problem now is cargo space. Sufficient space on flights is not always available," he adds.
According to agriculture ministry officials, improving cargo availability alongside lowering freight charges could significantly increase exports, particularly during the peak harvesting period when large quantities of premium mangoes become available.
Bangladesh exports mangoes mainly to the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and several other Middle Eastern countries. Most shipments to Europe and East Asia are transported by air because of the fruit's limited shelf life.
Official data shows Bangladesh exported around 1,300 tonnes of mangoes during the 2025 season, although exports remained well below the potential due to high logistics costs, limited cargo capacity, strict phytosanitary requirements, and inadequate post-harvest handling facilities.
The country produces more than 2.5 million tonnes of mangoes annually. Yet, exports account for only a tiny fraction of the total production, compared with regional competitors such as India and Pakistan.
To improve market access, the government is implementing the Production of Exportable Mangoes Project, under which farmers receive training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), integrated pest management, safe pesticide use, fruit bagging, and post-harvest handling.
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