Cost-Driven Surge in Imports Masks Gloomy Investment Trends

Despite a sharp rise in imports of goods last fiscal year, it does not reflect a rebound in investment in Bangladesh. The growth in imports is linked to various factors, including rising prices in international commodity markets.

The country's import bill increased by 10% to $75.20 billion in the last fiscal year, with petroleum goods driving the surge. The cost of importing petroleum goods jumped by 107% in the last fiscal year due to global price hikes.

Other factors contributing to the rise in imports include a significant jump in coal imports and fertiliser import bill, which increased by 42% to $3.72 billion. Wheat imports also surged, reaching $2.04 billion, up 26% from the previous year.

The stagnation in export growth in the last fiscal year underscores the gloomy investment situation in Bangladesh. Earnings from exports stood at $48.38 billion in FY26, down from $48.70 billion in the previous year.