Bangladesh Import Outlook Overview
Bangladesh imported around US$54 billion in 2020, down 10% from US$60 billion in the prior year. The decline was mainly driven by pandemic-related demand contraction and lower raw-material prices. The five largest supplier countries were China, India, Singapore, Korea, and Japan. Textile inputs, petroleum and energy products, machinery, food, and chemicals were the top import categories. Roughly 30% of imports were related to input materials for the RMG sector, closely tied to back-to-back L/C trading flows.
Import Composition by Category
| Item | Import Value | Share | YoY | Main Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Textile Inputs (Yarn, Fabric) | US$12B | 22% | -12% | China, India, Korea |
| Oil & Energy | US$6B | 11% | -25% | Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore |
| Machinery & Equipment | US$5.5B | 10% | -8% | China, Japan, Korea |
| Steel & Metals | US$4.5B | 8% | -5% | Japan, China, Korea |
| Chemicals & Plastics | US$4B | 7% | +2% | Korea, Saudi Arabia, India |
| Edible Oils & Food | US$3.5B | 6% | +5% | Indonesia, Malaysia |
| Electronics & Electrical | US$3B | 6% | +8% | China, Korea, Japan |
| Grains & Sugar | US$2.5B | 5% | +10% | Australia, Brazil, India |
| Automobiles & Transport | US$2B | 4% | -15% | India, Japan, China |
| Others | US$11B | 21% | -5% | Diverse |
The 25% fall in oil and energy imports reflected both weaker global oil prices and reduced shipping demand during COVID-19 disruptions. In contrast, imports of food and grains rose 10%, indicating stronger domestic food security demand.
Comparison of Main Suppliers
Import Trend Trajectory
Bangladesh's US$54B import market in 2020 remains a meaningful entry point for Korean firms. In addition to existing textile, chemical, and steel exports, expansion into cosmetics, food, medical devices, and electronics is promising, especially as tariff reductions are expected after LDC graduation in 2026.