Japan Delica Co., a prominent seafood importer and processor, is set to launch a new venture in Bangladesh this October, focusing on processing and exporting Japanese scallops. This initiative marks the company’s expansion into Bangladesh, where it has been operating a crab processing plant since 2018.
The new processing facility, located in Cox’s Bazar, will employ around 500 workers. The plant is expected to process up to 1,000 tonnes of scallops monthly, exporting approximately 200 tonnes of scallop meat to markets in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. This move is part of Japan Delica’s strategy to diversify its seafood export destinations amid China’s recent ban on Japanese marine products following the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Japan Delica, a subsidiary of Japan Food Service Co. based in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, aims to achieve annual sales of 8 billion Japanese yen ( which is approximately USD 55.54 million) within three years. This is the first time Japanese scallops, particularly those from Hokkaido and Aomori Prefecture, will be processed in Bangladesh for global distribution.
The Japanese government is also supporting the establishment of new processing facilities for Japanese scallops in countries like Vietnam and Mexico to reduce dependency on the Chinese market. Currently, around 350 Japanese companies operate in Bangladesh, with investments exceeding $380 million.
This development underscores the strengthening economic ties between Japan and Bangladesh, with 85% of Japanese companies in Bangladesh advocating for an economic partnership agreement (EPA) to further enhance trade and investment. Bangladesh’s exports to Japan, including fish, leather goods, and readymade garments, were valued at $1.9 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23. The consistent growth in exports to Japan highlights the rising standards of Bangladeshi products in global markets.
