Written by The Banking Post
Bangladesh’s economy picked up speed in September 2025, with the country’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) climbing to 59.1, its highest level in recent months, signalling robust expansion.
The latest data, released Tuesday by PMI Bangladesh—a joint initiative of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and Policy Exchange Bangladesh—showed the index rising from 58.3 in August.
A PMI reading above 50 indicates economic expansion, while a figure below 50 suggests contraction.
According to the report, the September uptick was driven primarily by manufacturing, which posted its 13th consecutive month of growth. The sector saw expansion across key indicators including new and export orders, factory output, input purchases, and supplier deliveries.
Meanwhile, both agriculture and construction rebounded after earlier slowdowns. Agriculture showed improvement in new business, input costs, and employment, while construction reported gains in activity and new project orders.
However, the services sector, which contributes over half of Bangladesh’s GDP, expanded at a slower pace, with its index easing to 58.7 in September from 61.3 in August.
The report also noted that employment returned to expansion after four months of decline, while order backlogs contracted at a slower rate.
“The overall Bangladesh economy continued to expand at a slightly faster rate in September,” said Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, Chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh.
He attributed the rebound in agriculture and construction to improved weather conditions and the gradual rollout of the new fiscal year budget, adding that the services sector’s slower growth likely stemmed from persistent inflationary pressures.
