Bangladesh’s merchandise exports grew by more than 7% year-on-year in January, reaching $4.5 billion compared to $4.2 billion in the same period last year.
The surge was primarily driven by the robust performance of the ready-made garment sector.
According to provisional data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR), total export earnings for the first seven months of the current fiscal year (July–January) amounted to over $29 billion, reflecting a growth of more than 12% from $25.93 billion recorded during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, remittance inflows stood at $2.19 billion in January, marking a 3.4% year-on-year increase, according to central bank data.
However, this figure represents a six-month low, largely due to stricter regulations on the dollar exchange rate.
Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), acknowledged a recent uptick in orders but warned that rising production costs are squeezing exporters.
"Price competitiveness remains a challenge, and reliable utility supplies are crucial for meeting buyers' lead times," he stated.
He further pointed out that the law and order situation is yet to fully stabilise, which is essential for restoring buyer confidence.
January recorded the lowest remittance inflow in six months since the interim government took office in August, according to central bank data.
The previous low was in July, when student protests, internet shutdowns, and political instability led to remittance figures dipping below $2 billion.
Senior banking officials attributed the volatility in remittance inflows to fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate.
When the rate rises, inflows typically increase.
In late December, the remittance exchange rate peaked at Tk128, pushing inflows to a record high of $2.64 billion.
However, in early January, the central bank tightened its control over the dollar rate, bringing it down to Tk122.
Consequently, remittance rates remained below this level in the first half of the month.
As pressure from import payments grew, banks gradually began offering higher rates, with the latest data indicating a maximum rate of Tk122.30 as of last Thursday.
For the current fiscal year (July–January), total remittance inflows reached $15.97 billion, marking a 23.7% increase from $12.91 billion in the same period last year.
