Major Surge in Bangladesh's Exports to China: Revenue Reaches 821 Million Dollars

In the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Bangladesh's exports to the Chinese market experienced a remarkable surge, recording an 18.24 percent increase compared to the previous year. Despite a slight decline in the country's overall export revenue, exports to China reached 821 million US dollars. According to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh, this figure represents the highest export revenue recorded in the last five fiscal years. The export volume, which stood at 683 million dollars in the 2021-2022 period, showed a total increase of 138 million dollars over five years. This growth has been made possible by both expanding production capacity and integrating new buyers into the market.

Bangladesh's overall export revenues fell to 48 billion dollars in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, a figure that is 0.58 percent lower than the previous year's level of 48,28 billion dollars. However, despite this overall decline, the successful performance in the Chinese market has been a significant source of morale for the country's economy. Experts state that the growth was triggered by increasing demand in the Chinese market for ready-made garments, knitted textile products, leather goods, and jute products, including sacks. Furthermore, the more effective utilization of commercial advantages provided to exporters, such as customs duty exemptions, has played a major role in this process. Competitive pricing strategies and the continuous improvement of product quality are also among the fundamental elements of this positive picture.

In contrast, Bangladesh's current export figures remain quite limited when considering the massive size of the Chinese market and the opportunities it offers, such as a 100 percent customs duty exemption. Starting from 1 Aralık 2024, China decided to apply full customs duty exemption to Bangladeshi products to promote trade. This step is considered a significant diplomatic and economic move aimed at accelerating commercial integration between the two countries. If this exemption is utilized to its full potential, Bangladesh's export revenues are expected to multiply in the future. Therefore, it is emphasized that the current situation is only a beginning, and that in-depth market analysis and strategic planning are required.

Looking at bilateral trade relations, a serious imbalance stands out in the trade volume between China and Bangladesh. According to data from the Bangladesh Bank and the Export Promotion Bureau, in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Bangladesh imported 18,2 billion dollars worth of goods from China. During the same period, Bangladesh's exports to China remained at only around 694,5 million dollars. This situation creates a massive trade deficit of approximately 17,51 billion dollars against Bangladesh. China is the largest raw material supplier for Bangladesh's industry and manufacturing sectors, and more than a quarter of the country's total imports are made from this nation.

A large portion of the essential inputs used particularly in the ready-made garment and textile industries, such as woven fabrics, yarns, and chemicals, are imported directly from China. In addition, industrial machinery and various manufacturing equipment constitute a significant portion of Bangladesh's imports from China. Mohammad Khurshed Alam, President of the Bangladesh-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI), stated while evaluating the situation that the increase in exports is a highly positive signal. However, he added that in order to fully benefit from the customs duty exemption advantage provided by China, trade fairs and direct business meetings must be organized in different provinces of China. Khurshed Alam specifically emphasized that conducting regular market research and closely monitoring demand in the Chinese market are essential to close the current trade deficit.