Export opportunities and quality control gain focus in shrimp & prawn sector.

In February, industry analysts and government stakeholders turned their attention to the export potential of
shrimp and prawn from Bangladesh, particularly as aquaculture expands. A report by Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicates that domestic demand for freshwater prawn surged in 2016,
with retail head-on large prawns in Dhaka fetching USD 20-25/kg in late 2016.
This domestic premium has implications for export supply. With domestic consumers absorbing increasing
volumes, exporters are challenged to secure sufficient quality raw materials for international markets. The DoF
emphasised enhanced certification, disease-free seed operations and better cold-chain logistics as essential to
maintain competitiveness.
Key highlights:
 Domestic retail prices for large size head-on freshwater prawn (4-5 pieces/kg) around USD 20-25/kg in
Dhaka during Oct–Dec 2016.
 Export pricing for headless shell-on prawns to the USA in the same period about USD 22/kg.
 Industry commentary flagged the need to scale up hatchery capacity and cold-storage infrastructure so
that export-oriented shrimp/prawn farms are not squeezed by domestic competition.