Bangladesh Fuel Import Bill Hits Record High at $10.63 Billion

Bangladesh's fuel import bill has reached an all-time high of $10.63 billion in fiscal year 2025-26, making up over 14% of the country's total merchandise imports.

This is a significant increase from the previous year's bill of $5.14 billion, with a rise of 107%. The overall import growth was only 10.1%, indicating that fuel imports have taken a disproportionate share of the country's trade budget.

The surge in fuel prices and domestic demand are major contributors to this record-breaking figure. Crude oil prices rose by 10.4% year-on-year, while refined petroleum prices increased by 17.6%. This has resulted in higher costs for Bangladesh as it relies heavily on imported refined fuels.