logo blftrade

Home > Country profiles > Trade Profile

flag Bangladesh Bangladesh: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Bangladesh is open to foreign trade, which represents around 50% of the GDP. The country plays a role as a passageway in the core of India and its Eastern provinces.

Customs duties in Bangladesh are relatively high; however, the country is implementing a series of measures including concessional tariffs, a customs duty recovery system and export processing zones, in order to reduce these barriers. Since January 1st, 2011, the country benefits from more simplified procedures and regulations applied by the European Union in order to favor the products that come from the LDC countries (least developed countries).

Besides high import duties, the other hindrances to the country's development are the low quality of transportation and communication infrastructures, an unreliable energy supply and a lack of skilled manpower. Corruption remains a major obstacle to conduct efficient business operations.

Traditionally, Bangladesh registers a significant trade deficit, financed by the international aid and the expatriate transfers. This trend should continue during the next following years. The textile sector, which represents almost 82% of total exports, experienced a large increase in 2011, which created a leap on its exports of almost 47%.

The country's main trade export partners are the European Union, the United States and China. The main export products are clothes, unprocessed hessian and its derived products, leather, fish and frozen seafood. Bangladesh mainly imports machinery and equipment, chemical products, steel & metals, cement, food and oil derived products. Bangladesh imports most of its products from China, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20072008200920102011
Imports of Goods (million USD) 18,59623,86021,83327,79436,234
Exports of Goods (million USD) 12,45315,37015,08319,19524,436
Imports of Services (million USD) 2,6733,4963,2034,128-
Exports of Services (million USD) 6858999351,209-
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 16-2-3-1-
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 13701-
Trade Balance (million USD) -4,195-6,004-4,605-5,485-
Current Account (million USD) 8579263,345--
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 46494643-
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 27292725-
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 20201919-

Source: WTO - World Trade Organization ; World Bank - Last Available Data.

Return to top

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2007
United States 25.7%
Germany 15.2%
United Kingdom 9.5%
France 6.5%
Italy 4.0%
See More Countries 39.0%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2007
China 15.6%
India 13.2%
Kuwait 7.2%
Indonesia 5.1%
Japan 5.1%
See More Countries 53.8%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

Return to top

Main Products

Main Exports
(% of Exports)
2007
Men's or boys' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers,...Men's or boys' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts (excl. knitted or crocheted, wind-jackets and similar articles, separate waistcoats, track suits, ski suits and swimwear) 16.6%
T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or...T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted 15.9%
Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and...Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles, knitted or crocheted (excl. wadded waistcoats) 9.9%
Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets,...Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers, dresses, skirts, divided skirts, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts (excl. knitted or crocheted, wind-jackets and similar articles, slips, petticoats and panties, track suits, ski suits and swimwear) 7.9%
Men's or boys' shirts (excl. knitted or crocheted,...Men's or boys' shirts (excl. knitted or crocheted, nightshirts, singlets and other vests) 6.4%
See More Products 43.3%
Main Imports
(% of Imports)
2007
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 8.8%
Cotton, neither carded nor combedCotton, neither carded nor combed 5.9%
Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined...Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined (excl. chemically modified) 5.1%
Soya-bean oil and its fractions, whether or not...Soya-bean oil and its fractions, whether or not refined (excl. chemically modified) 3.5%
Wheat and meslinWheat and meslin 3.4%
See More Products 73.2%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import controls and Export controls

To go further, check out our service Import export flows

Return to top

Commercial Policy

Main International Economic Cooperation
Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

Member of Group of 8 Developing Countries (D-8)

Assessment of Commercial Policy
The assessment of Bangladesh commercial policy
Barriers to exchanges
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
17.22%
 

List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs duties and local taxes

 
Useful Resources
Bangladesh Customs
National Organization of Intellectual Property
You can contact the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks by Email.
 

Return to top

Any Comments About This Content? Report It to Us.

 
 
Learn more about How to Export to Bangladesh on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.
 

© Export Entreprises SA, All Rights Reserved.
Last Updates: May 2012

TERMS & CONDITIONS | SITEMAP | FAQ | VIDEOS | CONTACT
English
Francais
Country profiles Best trading countries Import-Export flows Market reports search Professional reviews Consumption Data Business alert
Online directories Qualified list of prospects Professional associations Trade shows Your export selling price Landed cost calculator Currency convertor Measurement convertor Translate your documents Test your product Marketplaces directory
Shipping Documents Labelling rules Standards International customs classification no. Local customs classification no. Customs duties and local taxes Export controls Import controls
Presentation Our services Our publications Contact