Saturday, March 29, 2025
Kolkata, September 18, 2025 – Just ahead of Durga Puja, the much-awaited Hilsa fish, often called the Queen of the Sea, has reached India from Bangladesh. The first batch comprising around 32 tonnes of Hilsa, carried by eight trucks, crossed the Indo-Bangladesh border this week. Each truck brought about four tonnes of Hilsa from the Padma River. Bangladesh recently approved the export of 1,200 tonnes of Hilsa for the festive season, with consignments scheduled to reach India between September 16 and October 5.
Syed Anwar Maqsud, Secretary of the Fish Importers Association, confirmed that the consignment has already reached wholesale markets in Kolkata. He stated that consumers would have to pay around ₹1,800 per kilogram for Padma Hilsa. More deliveries are expected almost daily to Kolkata markets in the coming days.
While the arrival of fresh Hilsa has brought excitement to fish lovers and wholesalers, it has triggered concern among retail sellers due to soaring prices. At the morning auction, local retailers voiced frustration. One trader remarked that though the quality of the fish was excellent, the prices were so high that making profits seemed difficult. “We can only benefit if customers are willing to buy Hilsa at these steep prices,” he added.
Retail prices are expected to rise further, possibly crossing ₹2,000 per kilogram. The Hilsa brought in this consignment ranges between 800 grams to one kilogram in size. Another local seller noted that although Gujarati Hilsa had been available earlier, the demand traditionally remains higher for Bangladeshi Hilsa because of its unique taste, even though this year’s prices are far higher than usual.
Officials explained that the current export is taking place under Bangladesh’s Export Policy 2024–2027, which mandates a minimum export price of USD 12.5 per kilogram. This special export approval has been granted for the limited period between September 16 and October 5, in line with the ongoing festive season demand.
