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Business & Economy

Bangladesh targets $10bn of exports to the UK

Export officials say doubling Bangladesh’s share of UK imports to 1 per cent could lift annual shipments to $10bn. The opportunity depends on non-garment sectors meeting British standards and using post-LDC trade preferences effectively.

From 15 October 2026 — Daily Brief

Bangladesh could raise annual exports to the United Kingdom to $10bn by increasing its share of British imports from 0.49 per cent to 1 per cent, trade officials and business leaders said.

The estimate was presented at a workshop organised by the Export Promotion Bureau, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British High Commission. Participants identified processed food, pharmaceuticals, footwear and furniture as sectors with room to grow.

Garments still dominate the relationship. Non-garment products account for only about 6 per cent of Bangladesh’s merchandise exports to the UK, leaving the country exposed to concentration risk and limiting the gains from its manufacturing base.

Speakers urged exporters to improve certification, traceability, branding and compliance with British product rules. They also highlighted the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which is intended to provide continuity around Bangladesh’s graduation from least-developed-country status.

The $10bn figure is a potential market outcome, not a forecast. Reaching it will require investible firms, accredited laboratories, predictable customs procedures and buyers willing to diversify suppliers. Progress should therefore be measured by actual non-garment orders and market share rather than the headline ambition alone.

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