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Bangladesh Import & Export Toolkit
Bangladesh is the world's second-largest ready-made garment (RMG) exporter. This hub covers LC cost in BDT/USD, the multi-layer CD+RD+SD+VAT duty stack, and NBR customs clearance mechanics.
Currency
BDT (Bangladeshi Taka)
VAT
15% standard
Charged on CIF + CD + SD + RD. Advance Income Tax (AIT) 5% and Advance Tax (AT) 5% also apply on many imports.
Duty regime
Customs Duty (CD) + Regulatory Duty (RD) + Supplementary Duty (SD) + VAT + AIT + AT. Preferential rates under SAFTA, APTA, and duty-free access to EU (Everything But Arms) and many LDC schemes.
Regulatory deep-dive
Bangladesh import & export regulations →
Bangladesh import/export rules: NBR customs, ASYCUDA World, CCI&E licences, BSTI standards, IRC/ERC, LDC transition.
Free calculators for Bangladesh trade
LC Cost Calculator →
All-in bank charges on a Letter of Credit.
Usance LC Interest →
Deferred payment cost with correct ACT/360 or ACT/365 basis.
Import Duty & Tax →
Duty, VAT/GST and landed cost per HS code.
Landed Cost by HS & Country →
Interactive duty + VAT/GST + Incoterm split for this destination.
CIF ↔ FOB Converter →
Convert between CIF, FOB and landed cost.
HS Code Lookup →
Search harmonised classification codes.
CBM & Container →
Volume, weight and container utilisation.
Incoterms 2020 Visualiser →
Cost, risk and document split across all 11 rules.
Multi-Currency Invoice →
FX spread and cross-currency invoice value.
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Major ports & gateways
- · Chittagong - handles ~90% of trade
- · Mongla
- · Payra (developing)
Top exports
- · Ready-made garments (knitwear & woven)
- · Home textiles
- · Leather & footwear
- · Jute & jute products
- · Frozen shrimp
- · Agro-processed goods
Top imports
- · Cotton (RMG inputs)
- · Machinery
- · Refined petroleum
- · Iron & steel
- · Wheat
- · Edible oils (palm, soy)
- · Fertilisers
Trade finance in Bangladesh
- · BDT LC usance uses ACT/365. Most Bangladeshi trade is USD-denominated with ACT/360.
- · Back-to-back LCs are the backbone of the RMG industry - master LC from foreign buyer supports back-to-back import LCs for fabric/accessories.
- · Bangladesh Bank regulates all cross-border payments strictly - LC opening requires Import Registration Certificate (IRC) and adequate FX quota.
Customs & duty in Bangladesh
- · Bangladesh uses 8-digit HS aligned to WCO HS at 6 digits. ASYCUDA World is the customs clearance system.
- · PSI (Pre-Shipment Inspection) is required for many goods above threshold values.
- · Bond licence needed for RMG duty-free import of raw materials against export commitment.
Incoterms 2020 practice in Bangladesh
- · CFR / CIF Chittagong is the dominant import term. FOB Chittagong for RMG exports (buyer nominates carrier).
- · DDP is impractical - non-resident sellers cannot easily register with NBR.
HS commodity guides for Bangladesh
Classification, duty and worked landed-cost examples for the commodity families most active on Bangladesh's trade lanes.
HS 61 & 62Consumer goods
HS Code for Textiles & Apparel (Chapters 61 and 62) into Bangladesh →
HS 84Industrial
HS Code for Industrial Machinery (Chapter 84) into Bangladesh →
HS 72Metals
HS Code for Iron & Steel (Chapter 72) into Bangladesh →
HS 2710Energy
HS Code for Petroleum Products (HS 2710) into Bangladesh →
HS 31Agricultural
HS Code for Fertilizers (Chapter 31) into Bangladesh →
HS 15Agricultural
HS Code for Edible Oils (Chapter 15) into Bangladesh →
HS 2709Energy
HS Code for Crude Oil (HS 2709) into Bangladesh →
HS 85Electronics
HS Code for Electronics (Chapter 85) into Bangladesh →
Bangladesh's key trading partners
India toolkit →
IGST on imports · 5% / 12% / 18% / 28%
Singapore toolkit →
GST · 9% standard (from 2024)
China toolkit →
Import VAT · 13% standard, 9% reduced, 6% services
United States toolkit →
No federal VAT / GST · 0% federal
Germany toolkit →
VAT (Umsatzsteuer / Einfuhrumsatzsteuer) · 19% standard, 7% reduced
Japan toolkit →
Consumption Tax (JCT) · 10% standard / 8% reduced (food, newspapers)
Frequently asked questions
How does the Bangladesh duty stack work?
CIF → CD → RD → SD → VAT → AIT → AT. Each is calculated on the accumulating base. A 10% CD + 5% RD + 20% SD + 15% VAT + 5% AIT + 5% AT product ends up with an effective landed rate significantly above the headline CD.