Macro EconomyMedium•5 November 2026•
1 min read
Bangladesh Trade Deficit Widens 31% as Fuel Import Costs Double
Key Facts
1Bangladesh's trade deficit increased 31% year-on-year to $7.48 billion during the July-September period.
2Petroleum product imports surged 105% to reach $4.2 billion.
Bangladesh's trade deficit increased 31% year-on-year to $7.48 billion during the July-September period. The Daily Star reported that petroleum product imports surged 105% to reach $4.2 billion, significantly driving up the country's total import bill.
The spike in energy costs outpaced a modest 7% growth in export earnings, straining the national trade balance. According to central bank data, total imports rose 15% to $19.33 billion, while a 22.5% slump in capital machinery imports pointed to weakened business investment amid persistent inflation and foreign exchange pressures.