Bangladesh’s shrimp industry has taken a significant step toward revival with its first ever shipment of on board block frozen shrimp to the European market. On 18 October 2025 a consignment of 8.5 tonnes of block frozen Ocean Tiger shrimp valued at 167,000 dollars was shipped to Belgium by Rancon Sea Fishing Ltd one of the country’s leading industrial fishing companies. The shrimp were caught processed and frozen at sea on the deep sea vessel FV Joutha Uddam maintaining strict EU aligned quality standards.
This milestone follows the European Union’s certification of five Bangladeshi deep sea vessels in February 2025 after an inspection mission that began in December 2023. The approval now allows Bangladesh to export on board frozen seafood to Europe for the first time. All certified vessels including those from Rancon Sea Fishing Sea Resource Group and Deep Sea Fishing Ltd operate under ISO and HACCP guidelines with mandatory metal detection processes minus 18 degree cold storage and health checks issued by the Fish Inspection and Quality Control office.
The achievement comes at a crucial time for Bangladesh’s shrimp sector which once earned over 450 million dollars in FY2016 17 but fell sharply to 248 million dollars in FY2023 24 due to disease outbreaks compliance challenges and rising competition. Exports recovered to 296 million dollars last year supported by diversification and new market exploration. Access to the European market is expected to improve pricing opportunities reduce dependency on Japan and open pathways for premium grade products.
Despite this progress the industry continues to face pressure from increasing fuel costs which have risen nearly 60 percent in five years alongside a 21 percent decline in marine shrimp and fish catch last year. Exporters emphasize that policy support including alternatives to the current export incentive will be essential as Bangladesh moves through its LDC graduation phase.
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With global frozen shrimp and prawn trade valued at 21.3 billion dollars in 2023 Bangladesh currently holds a 1.4 percent share. Belgium’s acceptance of the first shipment and ongoing discussions with buyers in other EU countries offer a promising opportunity for Bangladesh to expand its presence in one of the world’s most lucrative seafood markets.
Rancon and other exporters now aim to build on this momentum with a focus on quality traceability and sustainable practices to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global shrimp trade.