Published: 09:01 AM, 24 April 2026
Crab exports have nearly tripled in five years
Crab farming in Bangladesh’s coastal regions has emerged as a highly promising sector for earning foreign currency. The cultivation of crabs in saline water has proven remarkably successful. Nearly 98 percent of the country’s crab exports are shipped to China, the United States, Australia, Japan, and several European countries. In the current fiscal year alone, crab exports reached Tk 867 crore and 88 lakh. Over the past five years, crab exports have almost tripled.
According to sources, this hard-shelled aquatic species from the arthropod family is not particularly popular as a local food item. However, it enjoys immense demand in international markets, making a significant contribution to foreign exchange earnings. Crab farming has also played a vital role in reducing unemployment in coastal areas. With limited job opportunities in these regions, many women have increasingly joined the profession.
Among exported fisheries products, crabs rank second only to shrimp. Data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) shows that crab exports were worth Tk 309 crore in the 2020–21 fiscal year. By 2024–25, that figure had surged to Tk 867 crore and 88 lakh. This means exports have nearly tripled within five years.
Soft-shell crabs are especially in demand in the United States, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and European markets. Their price ranges between Tk 800 and Tk 1,400 per kilogram. Rich in nutrition and relatively expensive, this seafood delicacy is widely served in luxury hotels and restaurants worldwide. Recognizing this demand, coastal farmers are increasingly turning to crab cultivation.
Sources say that alongside shrimp, crab exports have created a new horizon for Bangladesh’s economy over the last five years. Once considered an unconventional export item, crabs are now transforming the livelihoods of millions. If demand continues to rise at the current pace, this aquatic resource may soon rival the famed freshwater prawn, often referred to as “white gold.” Commercial crab farming is now underway in five coastal regions of the country. Business insiders report that exportable crabs worth hundreds of crores of taka remain untapped in Khulna, Bagerhat, and Satkhira due to limitations in fattening and hatchery projects.
Responsible sources note that crab farming in Bangladesh is still in its early stages. Almost all currently exported crabs are collected from coastal shrimp farms, estuaries, rivers, and mangrove forests. A mature or breeding crab usually weighs between 300 and 500 grams, though specimens weighing up to 5 kilograms have been found. A single female crab can lay between 1 and 8 million eggs. Crabs grow by shedding their shells and prefer digging burrows in soil and embankments, making mangrove areas an ideal habitat. Hatchery-based crab production is also becoming increasingly popular.
The saline waters of Bangladesh’s coast, similar to those used for tiger shrimp farming, are highly suitable for crab cultivation. Ideal soil conditions include soft loam or clay, organic matter content of 7–12 percent, and acid sulfate-free environments.
Suitable water conditions include salinity levels of 10–25 ppt, temperatures of 25–30°C, pH levels of 7.5–8.5, alkalinity of 80 mg/l, hardness of 40–100 ppm, and dissolved oxygen above 4 ppm.
A visit to coastal crab farms reveals thousands of tilapia fish being cut daily as feed for caged crabs. Farmers carefully monitor the crabs three times a day to check whether they have molted. Within 20 to 22 days, once the crabs gain weight, they are exported to markets across the world. The immense potential of this sector has drawn the attention of both government and private organizations, while farmers are enthusiastically rushing into the trade.
Fisheries officer G.M. Selim said that alongside shrimp, crab farming is rapidly gaining popularity in coastal regions. “It is a highly promising sector. We are conducting training programs, and several private organizations are also working in this field,” he said. However, he also pointed out challenges. Crab collection from the Sundarbans remains banned for five months each year, and there is no hatchery in the region. With a hatchery, year-round production and sustained employment would be possible. He added that efforts are underway to find government support mechanisms for farmers during the restricted season, in consultation with the Forest Department. According to him, alongside tiger shrimp and freshwater prawns, crab farming can become a major source of self-employment.
Rafiqul Alam, a resident of Koyra, has found success in crab farming. “I have been raising crabs in cages for the past five to six years. It is quite profitable. The only problems are water scarcity and poor transportation,” he said. He added that a private company regularly collects crabs by river route from designated locations for export.
>>AA B.M. Rakib Hasan, Khulna
