Export doors opened

In July 2024, Bangladesh received approval from the General Administration of Customs to export fresh mangoes to China. Kamal said she and her colleagues were grateful to Chinese and Bangladeshi government officials for their efforts to expedite the necessary protocols.

"Their support motivated us to persevere, and ultimately, we secured a buyer and fulfilled all compliance requirements," she said. "We sincerely appreciate our Chinese partners' trust in us and in Bangladeshi mangoes."

Meridian Group's subsidiary Meridian Agro was able to act promptly once the protocols were in place, Kamal said.

On May 28, Meridian became the first Bangladeshi company to export mangoes to China, when 3 metric tons of the fruit arrived in Changsha in the evening. To streamline the process, Changsha Customs provided end-to-end support, including policy consultation and quarantine approval, Xinhua News Agency reported.

At Changsha Huanghua International Airport, a dedicated "fresh express" team ensured speedy, on-arrival inspection with a tailormade clearance plan.

"We see a promising opportunity to tap into this largely untapped segment," Kamal said. "We believe the shipment is the first step toward a large milestone in China-Bangladeshi bilateral ties in the agro-sector."

Bill Wei, investment director for the importer Hunan BabaiLi Holding Group, is also optimistic about the growth potential of Bangladeshi mangoes in the Chinese market.

His company is involved in air freight operations and international trading, and has strong domestic distribution channels. He said the first shipment of mangoes was mainly distributed as samples to downstream partners, including e-commerce platforms, supermarkets, and fresh produce chains.

The distinctive flavor and aroma of Bangladeshi mangoes set them apart from domestic and other foreign varieties, he said. Despite their "average" appearance due to Bangladeshi farmers' natural cultivation methods they are highly prized by Chinese consumers, Wei said.

His company's focus is on selling to consumers who are more aware of the benefits of naturally cultivated and chemical-free mangoes.

"The aroma from these Bangladeshi mangoes is noticeable the moment you open the box," said Zou Qiuhong, a wholesale procurement manager at an online platform operating in South China. "We are particularly amazed by their smooth texture with no fiber, and are already in talks about procurement procedures," she added.