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Fresh Bangladeshi jackfruit approved for export to China
Govt sends action plan to districts to produce exportable jackfruit
China has officially approved the import of fresh jackfruit from Bangladesh, opening a new export opportunity for the country’s agricultural sector.
The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) made the announcement on 27 July, authorising the import of fresh Bangladeshi jackfruit that complies with the country’s specified phytosanitary requirements.
The approval marks a significant milestone for Bangladesh’s fruit export industry, as China is one of the world’s largest import markets for fresh produce.
The approval comes as Bangladesh continues efforts to expand access for its agricultural products in international markets and boost export diversification.
An MoU on jackfruit exports from Bangladesh was signed during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China.
Referring to his recent visit to China, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on 8 July told parliament that, “Jackfruit from our country is very popular. Chinese people like it very much.”
The prime minister said he was encouraged by Malaysia’s success in exporting durians to China after discussing the matter with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a recent visit.
Approval secured, more work needed
AKM Mofidul Islam, deputy director (export) of the Plant Quarantine Wing at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said, “We need to work to produce exportable jackfruit and it will take one more year. The exporters have to get GACC certificates.
“According to GACC requirements, we made an action plan and sent it to each district to select orchards,” he said adding that, “Within the next year we can export 500-1,000 tonnes of jackfruit to China.”
China currently imports most of its jackfruit from Thailand, while Bangladesh already exports the fruit to countries including the United States, Canada, France and Italy.
The Chinese side has already inspected jackfruit orchards in Gazipur and reviewed production practices. The protocol has been finalised and a decision was expected soon, an official familiar with the process said, requesting anonymity.
Earlier, on 6 June, a virtual meeting between Bangladesh and China was held at the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture to discuss prospects for exporting premium-quality jackfruit from Gazipur to the Chinese market.
The two sides discussed jackfruit quality, export capacity, compliance with international standards and market-entry requirements.
According to the draft protocol, all export-oriented orchards and packing houses must be jointly registered by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Agriculture and Chinese customs authorities.
The protocol requires compliance with Good Agricultural Practices and integrated pest management.
Fruits must be free from pests, including Bactrocera carambolae and Bactrocera umbrosa. Registered packing houses must maintain strict standards during sorting, washing and packaging.
Each export carton must clearly mention the fruit name, exporting country, orchard name and registration number in English or Chinese.
Containers must remain sealed until arrival at Chinese ports. The protocol also emphasises the use of methyl eugenol for pest control and compliance with international phytosanitary standards.
Bangladesh produced 18.35 lakh tonnes of jackfruit in FY25, and 18.3 lakh tonnes in FY24.
Production steady, but export drops
Although the fruit is grown across the country, the leading commercial production areas are Gazipur, Bandarban, Rangamati, Tangail and Khagrachhari.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has struggled to maintain its footing, facing a decline in jackfruit export volume over the last couple of years.
From 2,231.82 tonnes in FY23, the export numbers have steadily dwindled. Data shows 2,024.10 tonnes ofjackfruit were exported in FY24, falling further to 1,199.27 tonnes in FY25. As of May 2026, the current fiscal year has seen only 1,083.09 tonnes exported.
This decline is stark, even as domestic production remains impressively stable at roughly 1.84 million tonnes.
Major markets like the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia continue to be the primary destinations for the fruit. Together with France, Italy, and Canada, these nations account for nearly 85% of all Bangladeshi exports. The bulk of this volume, around 76%, is absorbed by the UK market alone.
China is the world’s largest importer of the fruit.
Green jackfruit offers a distinct advantage due to its significantly longer shelf life during transport.
Initial shipments are planned to originate from registered, pilot programme orchards in Gazipur.