Economy feature

Benapole Port Imports Plunge 73,000 Tonnes

India’s curbs and delayed quota deal blamed for consumer goods shortfall

Written by The Banking Post


Benapole port witnessed a steep fall in consumer goods imports in FY 2024-25, with volumes plunging by over 73,000 tonnes compared to the previous fiscal year despite a rise in onion shipments from India.

Official figures show the port handled just 34,860 tonnes of essentials last year, down from 108,000 tonnes in FY 2023-24—a deficit of 73,199 tonnes.

Trade insiders linked the sharp drop to India’s frequent export restrictions, higher prices, and procedural hurdles. They also noted that the long-discussed quota agreement on eight essential items, agreed in principle in December 2022, has yet to be implemented even after three years. The deal had proposed fixed annual imports of wheat, rice, onions, sugar, ginger, pulses, and garlic from India to ensure supply stability.

“Bangladesh cannot meet domestic demand on its own and must depend on imports from India. But repeated restrictions are creating a growing deficit,” said one trader, adding that middlemen are inflating prices in the local market.

Breakdown of imports shows rice fell from 21,384 tonnes in FY 2023-24 to just 1,150 tonnes last fiscal year, pulses from 78,947 tonnes to 1,000 tonnes, ginger from 431 tonnes to 60 tonnes, and potato from 4,963 tonnes to 3,084 tonnes. Onion imports, however, rose sharply to 15,295 tonnes from just 200 tonnes a year earlier, while chilli imports increased to 9,447 tonnes from 7,152 tonnes. No wheat or sugar was imported last year.

Business leaders stressed the urgency of implementing the quota agreement to curb volatility. “Political changes are normal, but trade policy must remain consistent,” said a representative of the Benapole C&F Agents Association.

Officials at Benapole confirmed the fall in imports but said all consignments cleared quality checks. Traders warned that unless bilateral measures are put into effect, the widening deficit will continue to fuel soaring prices of daily essentials, hitting low-income households the hardest.


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