In Bangladesh, two species of Pangasius or Pangas are found: Pangasius pangasius is primarily inhabiting open water bodies such as rivers, beels, and floodplains, and Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, which is predominantly cultured in closed water bodies like ponds and ghers (enclosures). Pangas has become the most significant pond-farmed species in Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector. In the 2022-2023 fiscal year, total Pangas production crossed 400K metric tons (MT), with 97% of the production coming from Pangasius hypophthalmus species, documented by the Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh. In earlier fiscal year 2021-2022, pangas production was 395K MT for the country.
The major Pangas-producing districts include Mymensingh, Cumilla, Bogura, Jashore, and Barishal. Pangas fish serve as an important source of animal protein. Every 100g of Pangas provides approximately 90-95 Kcal of energy, 15-17g of protein, 3.5-4g of fat, and 1.0g of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Pangas fish are an affordable and accessible source of nutrition for millions, making it a vital component of food security and public health in Bangladesh. It is easily digestible and suitable for all age groups, including children and elderly individuals, one of the reasons is fish contains less bones. It has flaky white flesh, firm texture, and neutral flavor, making it a popular low-cost alternative to other species.Pangas fish weighing roughly 2 kg are currently being sold for BDT 180-220/kg ($1.48-$1.81/Kg) in Dhaka’s fish markets. However, price variances are impacted by factors such as supply and demand, product quality, and so on.
Pangas (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) is an indigenous fish species of Thailand that has spread to Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and other countries. Thai Pangas were initially imported from Thailand and brought into Bangladesh by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MOFL) in 1990. The artificial breeding of Pangas introduced in 1993 by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI). Subsequently, farmers, entrepreneurs, and extension agents across the country adopted the breeding, seed production, and culture technology of Thai Pangas.
Pangas are profitable due to their consistent production, rapid growth, and high productivity. Low market prices drive strong local market demand. The majority of poor individuals consume pangas, and many rural people living below the poverty line work in the species’ production and marketing systems. Pangas grows faster, making it economically viable for commercial farming. It can attain harvestable size in a short time (typically 7 to 9 months). Pangas has a high feed conversion ratio, meaning it requires less feed to grow, making it more cost-efficient than some other species.
Vietnam is the largest producer and exporter of pangasius with almost half of the total global production. In the last year, Vietnam’s Pangas exports reached approximately 2 billion US$, marking a 9% increase from the previous year and accounting for 20% of the country’s total seafood export revenue. Currently, in Vietnam larger Pangas weighing over 1.2kg are selling at 1.29 US$/kg, a record extreme since 2022. While smaller fish, approximately 1kg in weight, exported to the EU countries and United States and sold to 1.10 US$. The current retail price of 1 kg of Vietnamese pangas fillet in Leicester, England, is about 550 BDT ($4.52). Import prices for China strengthened to US$2.01/kg, 7% increased price from late 2023. Vietnamese pangas are exported to more than 80 nations globally. Pangas from Vietnam are commonly exported to high-value countries due to its acceptability and low cost. Europe is the main market for Pangas and could be a possible destination for exports from Bangladesh.
Pangas fillets manufactured in Bangladesh frequently have yellow discoloration, which is viewed as lesser quality and less desirable by European consumers. Bangladeshi scientists have identified several potential causes of this discoloration, including high stocking densities, infrequent water exchange, elevated organic matter in pond water, the proliferation of carotenoid-containing cyanobacteria, the presence of artificial and natural pigments in feed, and inadequate post-harvest handling. European markets particularly prefer white Pangas fillets, therefore colour uniformity is critical for meeting export standards. The EU has stringent regulations on chemical residues in food, and many shipments from Bangladesh have been rejected due to the excessive use of antibiotics. Currently, Bangladesh holds the second position in global Pangas production, while India ranks third and Indonesia fourth. However, India is ahead in fillet processing and exports. Bangladesh needs to improve its processing capabilities and export standards, it has the potential to dominate the global Pangas fillet market.
The potential for ready-to-cook (RTC) and ready-to-eat (RTE) products made from Pangas fish in Bangladesh is significant, driven by growing consumer demand for convenience and time-saving food options. With the country’s expanding processing infrastructure and the fish’s rapid growth and low production costs, Pangas offer an affordable and versatile source for value-added products like wet fish, fillets (skinless, boneless), chunked and steak fish, crispy pickles (Balachao), fish ball, fish finger etc., and frozen or pre-cooked dishes. Pangas fish can be turned into fish powder, which can be used as high protein, lipid, minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium) and omega-3 fatty accid supplement for human body.
As the domestic and export markets for such products increase, Bangladesh has the opportunity to become a major player in the global seafood industry. However, to fully realize this potential, investments in quality control, sustainable farming practices, and adherence to international food safety standards will be essential. Given the increasing demand for convenient seafood options, urbanization, changing consumer preferences and year-round availability of Pangas fish present huge opportunities for economic growth and value addition. Young entrepreneurs with expertise in food processing, supply chain management, and e-commerce can leverage the growing demand for convenient pangas fish-based products.
Al-Shahriar
Research Assistant
WorldFish Bangladesh
Email: alshahriar12@gmail.com
