According to the latest announcement from the Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh, the country’s mangoes are expected to officially begin exporting to China in the summer of 2026. Since July 2024, Bangladesh mangoes have received approval from the General Administration of Customs of China for entry into the Chinese market. The announcement states that mangoes exported to China must undergo steam heat treatment or hot water treatment before export to meet Chinese safety and quality standards. Specifically, the steam heat treatment requires the core temperature of the fruit to reach 46.5°C (with a minimum relative humidity of 95%) for 10 minutes. For hot water treatment, the mangoes must be fully submerged in water, with the core temperature reaching 46°C or higher, for 15 minutes, and the water temperature must not be lower than 48°C.
As one of the world’s major mango producers, Bangladesh produces more than 1 million tons of mangoes annually. However, due to limitations in production and export conditions, Bangladesh’s mango exports have been far below its large production volume. In 2015, Bangladesh exported about 800 tons of mangoes, mainly to European markets, but due to non-compliance with export standards, the export volume dropped to 300 tons in 2016. In recent years, Bangladesh's mango exports have gradually recovered, reaching 1,757 tons in 2021, with a target export volume of 4,000 tons for 2023.
Along with mangoes, Bangladesh is also negotiating the export of other agricultural products to China, including jackfruit, guava, potatoes, and fragrant rice. However, these negotiations have made limited progress. Last year, a group of Chinese merchants visited Bangladesh to explore the export potential of mangoes and jackfruit. To support mango exports, both sides are considering the possibility of China funding the establishment of a mango testing laboratory in Bangladesh.
The approval of Bangladesh mangoes for the Chinese market marks an important breakthrough for the country’s agricultural exports, and is expected to bring new growth opportunities to Bangladesh’s agriculture sector.