Dhaka, Mar 03 (V7N) — Bangladesh’s vegetable export sector has been thrown into deep uncertainty as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to a near-total suspension of shipments, with exporters reporting that around 90 percent of exports have been halted over the past few days.

Industry insiders say the crisis has severely disrupted air cargo operations, the primary mode of transporting perishable agricultural products to overseas markets. At least 102 flights from Dhaka have reportedly been canceled in the last three days, leaving exporters struggling to send consignments abroad and incurring significant financial losses.

Nearly 180 export-oriented companies usually ship between 35 and 40 tons of fresh vegetables daily to international markets. However, key destinations—including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait—have effectively come to a standstill due to the conflict-driven instability in the region.

Bangladesh exports a wide range of fresh produce to Middle Eastern and European markets every day. These include green chilies, gourds, eggplants, papayas, chichingas, barbati (yardlong beans), beans, and tomatoes. The sector had shown strong performance earlier this fiscal year, registering a 26 percent growth in exports during the first eight months.

Exporters now fear that the current disruption could undo that progress. Perishable goods are piling up, and farmers are being forced to sell at lower prices in the domestic market due to the sudden drop in overseas demand. Stakeholders warn that if the crisis continues for an extended period, Bangladesh risks losing its established market share to competing exporting nations.

Traders have urged the government to explore alternative logistics solutions and engage in diplomatic efforts to safeguard the country’s export interests. They emphasize that timely intervention is crucial to prevent long-term damage to Bangladesh’s growing agricultural export industry.

END/SMA/AJ