Raw materials import into Bangladesh grows 9.9% in Financial Year 2025

Bangladesh’s imports of raw materials for the readymade garment (RMG) sector rose by 9.9 percent in the financial year 2024-25, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

The country imported RMG raw materials, including raw cotton, yarn, staple fibre, and other accessories, worth US$18.44 billion, up from US$16.78 billion in FY ’24. Among the major components, yarn imports grew 12.3 percent to US$3.61 billion, while textile and related articles saw a 16 percent increase to US$8.69 billion. Staple fibre imports rose 10 percent to US$1.53 billion, and imports of dyeing and tanning materials climbed 5.2 percent to US$877 million. However, raw cotton imports fell 4.3 percent to US$3.46 billion.
The RMG sector also remained the country’s top export earner, generating US$39.35 billion in FY ’25, an 8.84 percent increase from US$ 36.15 billion in FY ’24. This accounted for over 80 percent of Bangladesh’s total export earnings of US$48.28 billion, with net exports from the sector totaling US$20.91 billion, according to central bank figures and Export Promotion Bureau data.

The values of exports, imports, and net exports indicate a stable situation for the RMG industry, said an official. Meanwhile, imports of capital machinery declined 19.1 percent to US$2.81 billion, and other capital goods fell 5.9 percent to US$6.7 billion. Exporters attributed the slowdown to political transitions and uncertainties, which discouraged new investments.