Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid on Monday inaugurated the country’s first Vapour Heat Treatment (VHT) facility in a move to add a new dimension to Bangladesh’s mango exports.

The facility is expected to open new horizons for mango exports to countries with strict quarantine regulations, including Japan, Australia, South Korea, China, and New Zealand.

The technology destroys fruit flies and other quarantine pests, including their eggs and larvae, through a chemical-free and environmentally friendly process. Under VHT, fruits such as mangoes and papayas are heated under controlled temperature and humidity conditions to eliminate pests while maintaining fruit quality.

The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) implemented the facility.

Officials said the plant can process up to 12 tonnes of mangoes daily at a cost of Tk3 per kilogram. The initiative also includes an automated conveyor-based packaging line to ensure standardized processing.

Abu Noman Faruq Ahmed, a trainer of the globally recognised private certification system GLOBALG.A.P. and a professor at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, said the introduction of VHT marks a major step forward for Bangladesh’s mango export industry.

“Different countries have different quarantine requirements for imported fruits. Through VHT, mangoes become free from quarantine pests and gain access to markets with stricter import standards,” he said.

Bangladesh currently exports mangoes mainly to ethnic markets in 27 countries, including the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Singapore, Germany and Canada.

However, the real potential lies in entering mainstream supermarket chains and premium fruit markets.

Bangladesh competes with countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, India and Australia, which have long been using VHT, Hot Water Treatment (HWT), irradiation technology and modern pack-house systems.

Mohammad Arifur Rahman, director of the Department of Agricultural Extension’s exportable mango production project, said Bangladesh will now be able to export mangoes to several additional countries.

“There are some challenges in mango exports, and we are gradually working to resolve them,” he told Daily Waadaa.

Experts said Bangladesh produces around 2.5–2.7 million tonnes of mangoes annually, but exports remain limited. According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) data, mango exports reached a record 3,100 tonnes in 2023. Exports declined to 1,321 tonnes in 2024 before increasing to more than 2,100 tonnes in 2025.

They said limited exports are linked to gaps in international-standard production systems, post-harvest treatment, packaging, high air freight costs, cold-chain facilities and traceability mechanisms.

The newly established VHT facility has already conducted experimental treatment on nearly three tonnes of mangoes. Officials said the technology is also being tested on other fruits and vegetables, including litchi, pineapple, guava, citrus fruits, tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes.

Experts recommended establishing regional VHT centres in major mango-producing districts such as Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Dinajpur and Rangpur, along with modern pack-houses, grading facilities, cold storage systems, refrigerated transport and internationally accredited laboratories.

“VHT is not just a technology; it can become a gateway for Bangladesh’s mangoes to enter high-value international markets,” said Professor Abu Noman.

Exporters also see strong potential following the introduction of VHT technology.

Mohammad Kanchan Mia, proprietor of Arat Agro BD, who exports mangoes, vegetables, fruits and dried food products to the Middle East, Europe, Malaysia and Singapore, said Bangladesh has long missed opportunities in some premium markets due to the lack of approved treatment facilities.

“There is strong demand for Bangladeshi mangoes in Australia, but we could not enter that market because VHT was not available. Recently, Japan also suspended mango imports from India over concerns regarding pest-control treatment processes. Since VHT is mandatory in countries like Japan and Australia, Bangladesh now has a real opportunity to enter these markets,” he told Waadaa.