Bangladesh exports much lower to Bhutan and Nepal, compared to imports from these countries.
Despite the preferential trade agreement with Bhutan, bilateral trade with Bhutan and Nepal is limited compared to Bangladesh's overall world trade.
Bangladesh signed its first preferential trade agreement with Bhutan in 2022. According to customs data, in the fiscal year 2022-23, Bangladesh exported 48 thousand 67 metric tons of goods worth 420 crore taka to Bhutan and Nepal through Indian land customs stations.
In the following fiscal year, the export volume decreased to 35 thousand 908 metric tons of goods worth 320 crore taka. In addition, from July to March of the fiscal year 2024-25, Bangladesh exported 26 thousand 999 metric tons of goods worth 277 crore taka.
In contrast, the imports from these two countries have increased continuously. In 2023-24 fiscal year, Bangladesh imported 27 lakh 81 thousand 13 metric tons of goods worth one thousand 218 crore taka. In the previous fiscal year 2022-23, 18 lakh 79 thousand 755 metric tons worth one thousand 160 crore taka were imported.
Bangladesh has imported 19 lakh 49 thousand 454 metric tons worth one thousand 172 crore taka from July to March of the current fiscal year.
Bangladesh's imports from Bhutan include cardamom, boulder stone, orange, limestone, dried lentils, food, plants or parts used in pharmacy, and from Nepal include beverages, electronic equipment, plastic products, rubber, travel-related products, and wood pulp.
Bangladeshi exporters believe that Nepal’s policy needs to be changed to increase Bangladesh’s exports.
PRAN-RFL Group exports $10 million worth of goods to Nepal and Bhutan every year. In this regard, PRAN-RFL Group Director (Marketing) Kamal Kamruzzaman said that exporters have said that if Nepal changes its product valuation policy like India’s, trade with Bangladesh could increase.
He also said that Nepal has a discriminatory valuation policy for Bangladeshi export products. While the price of Bangladeshi sweets per kg in Nepal is $2.25, the price of similar Indian products is $1.32. He also said that in Nepal, the price of Bangladeshi biscuits per kg is $2, while the price of similar Indian products is $1. The same is true for cookies. The price of Bangladeshi cookies per kg is $2, while the price of Indian products is $0.9.
Translated by AM
