Dhaka:The country's livestock product exports have surged by 217 percent over six months, from March to August 2026, reaching a total of US$104.64 lakh. This marks a significant increase compared to the previous six-month period from September 2025 to February 2026, which saw exports totaling US$32.99 lakh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, domestic production of meat and eggs has surpassed national demand, ensuring per capita availability above minimum dietary requirements, as reported by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS). The nation now produces approximately 90.70 lakh tonnes of meat and 2,509.41 crore eggs annually, against the estimated demands of 78.14 lakh tonnes of meat and 1,855.36 crore eggs.
However, the production of milk continues to lag behind domestic demand, despite an increase of 69.71 percent over the past decade to nearly 157.53 lakh tonnes. Current daily per capita milk availability is around 241 ml, compared to the required 250 ml.
In fiscal year 2025-26, meat production increased by 1.16 lakh tonnes to 90.70 lakh tonnes from 89.54 lakh tonnes the previous year. Egg production also rose by 2.83 percent to 2,509.41 crore pieces from 2,440.65 crore pieces. The growth in production has been attributed to government policy support, entrepreneurship development, and improvements in cattle and poultry breeds.
Efforts are underway to maintain product quality and food safety standards to meet international sanitary and phytosanitary requirements. This includes improving cold-chain facilities and diversifying export destinations to sustain growth in the sector.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) recorded annual per capita meat consumption at only 14 kg, highlighting a disparity between availability and actual consumption. Additionally, the prices of meat, milk, and eggs in Bangladesh remain higher than in neighboring India, partly due to inefficient production systems.
Experts emphasize the need for modern technology and improved production efficiency to make livestock products more affordable. There is also a call for stronger government support and the introduction of a pricing mechanism to ensure fair prices for farmers and consumers.
The livestock sector contributed 1.81 percent to the country's GDP and 16.56 percent to agricultural GDP in fiscal 2025-26, with a significant portion of the population depending on it either directly or indirectly. The sector's potential for expansion remains, particularly through rural household participation in broiler, layer, cattle, goat, and sheep rearing, alongside exploring export opportunities for meat, milk, and eggs.