Only 22% Of Approved Hilsa Exports Reached India

Hilsa fish exports to India have ended as the fishing window closed ahead of the start of the breeding season.

However, due to a combination of time constraints, a hilsa shortage, and high prices, exporters have only managed to meet 22 percent of the approved quota this time.

Between Sept 26 and Oct 12, only 533 tonnes of the allotted 2,450 tonnes were exported to India, generating earnings worth $5.3 million, according to Mahbubur Rahman, a fisheries quarantine officer at Benapole port.

Rashedul Sajeeb Nazir, deputy director (traffic) of Benapole Land Port, noted that of the 49 institutions granted export approval, 29 failed to export any hilsa.

Exporters said that the narrow window of time between the requests of Indian businesses and the government's greenlight to exporters did not allow for the quota to be met.

The start of Durga Puja marked a halt in imports in India's West Bengal, leaving only a limited number of days available for hilsa exports. This seasonal timing has consistently created challenges, preventing the full quota of hilsa from being exported to India over the past five years, according to traders.

"On Fridays, which are weekly holidays, all types of exports from Benapole to India by road are closed. However, it remains open on Saturdays. Conversely, India keeps imports closed on Sundays. Consequently, excluding these two days, traders had only 12 days from Sept 26 to Oct 12 to send hilsa to India," said Rocky Mahmud, manager of Satata Fisheries in Benapole.

Rashedul noted that the Bangladesh government only issued export permits for hilsa this year following requests from Indian businessmen. Initially, on Sept 21, the Ministry of Commerce authorised the export of 3,000 tonnes of Hilsa, which was later adjusted to 2,420 tonnes on Sept 25.

"The majority of the approved hilsa was exported through the Benapole Land Port. Although the port on the other side was closed due to the festival, we continued hilsa exports under special arrangements. This year, exports continued until 8pm on the last permissible day, sending 533 tonnes of hilsa to India."

Bangladesh has periodically allowed hilsa exports to meet the demands of Bengali consumers in India's West Bengal, despite ceasing regular exports in 2012 due to domestic needs and declining fish stocks.

In the past few years, even with permissions granted, full export quotas have not been met. For instance, in 2023, only 631.24 tonnes were exported out of an approved 3,500 tonnes. Similarly, in previous years, the actual exports have consistently fallen short of the allotted quota.