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The twenty imports Bangladesh is best placed to replace.

Bangladesh imported USD 40bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 57bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well, with how concentrated the supply of each is.

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USD 6.3bnthe twenty, imported in 2024

268products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths

381products Bangladesh already exports well

659product lines imported at USD 10m or more

The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Bangladesh already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Bangladesh would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Bangladesh does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

1

Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, less than 232.56 but not...HS 520523

Comes fromIndia 93%, 11 source countries

Nearest export strengthCotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, 85% or... (exports USD 241k)

Exports of this linenone recorded; 11 more lines in the heading, USD 1.0bn

Countries that export it well18

Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 568m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 2 per cent (3); India supplies 93 per cent (2).

USD 568mup 12% on 2022
2

Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: phosphatic, superphosphates, containing by weight 35% or more of diphosphorus...HS 310311

Comes fromMorocco 88%, 3 source countries

Nearest export strengthnone named

Exports of this linenone recorded

Countries that export it well8

Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 526m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3); Morocco supplies 88 per cent (2).

USD 526mup 6% on 2022
3

Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, weighing...HS 521142

Comes fromChina 73%, 13 source countries

Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns... (exports USD 12m)

Exports of this lineUSD 821k; 6 more lines in the heading, USD 265m

Countries that export it well11

Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 510m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); China supplies 73 per cent (2).

USD 510mdown 20% on 2022
4

Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of cotton, dyedHS 600622

Comes fromChina 78%, 18 source countries

Nearest export strengthFabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of heading... (exports USD 395k)

Exports of this lineUSD 8m; 7 more lines in the heading, USD 681m

Countries that export it well21

Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 231m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); China supplies 78 per cent (2).

USD 231mup 8% on 2022
5

Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns of different colours, weighing more than 100g/m2...HS 520842

Comes fromChina 77%, 13 source countries

Nearest export strengthCotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, 85% or... (exports USD 241k)

Exports of this lineUSD 1m; 10 more lines in the heading, USD 440m

Countries that export it well15

Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 153m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (3); China supplies 77 per cent (2).

USD 153mdown 21% on 2022
6

Footwear: parts, outer soles and heels, of rubber or plasticsHS 640620

Comes fromChina 98%, 14 source countries

Nearest export strengthFootwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6403, covering the ankle, outer... (exports USD 471m)

Exports of this lineUSD 521k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 58m

Countries that export it well19

Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 139m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); China supplies 98 per cent (2).

USD 139mdown 15% on 2022
7

Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199

Comes fromIndia 81%, 16 source countries

Nearest export strengthnone named

Exports of this lineUSD 37k

Countries that export it well44

Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 111m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); India supplies 81 per cent (2).

USD 111mup 75% on 2022
8

Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium phosphate)HS 310530

Comes fromMorocco 47%, 6 source countries

Nearest export strengthnone named

Exports of this linenone recorded

Countries that export it well17

Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 1.2bn, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3); Morocco supplies 47 per cent (1).

USD 1.2bndown 5% on 2022
9

Cement clinkers (whether or not coloured)HS 252310

Comes fromIndonesia 58%, 8 source countries

Nearest export strengthnone named

Exports of this linenone recorded

Countries that export it well36

Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 364m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); Indonesia supplies 58 per cent (1).

USD 364mdown 53% on 2022
10

Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, dyed, 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including cross twill...HS 520932

Comes fromChina 55%, 15 source countries

Nearest export strengthToilet and kitchen linen: of cotton, excluding terry towelling or... (exports USD 30m)

Exports of this lineUSD 2m; 6 more lines in the heading, USD 324m

Countries that export it well14

Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 219m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 8 per cent (3); China supplies 55 per cent (1).

USD 219mdown 15% on 2022
11

Fabrics, woven: of polyester staple fibres n.e.c. in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple fibresHS 551511

Comes fromChina 74%, 16 source countries

Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns... (exports USD 543k)

Exports of this lineUSD 4k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 20m

Countries that export it well8

Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 217m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 14 per cent (2); China supplies 74 per cent (2).

USD 217mup 19% on 2022
12

Yarn, synthetic: filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), textured, of polyesters, not for retail sale, not...HS 540233

Comes fromChina 76%, 14 source countries

Nearest export strengthNightdresses and pyjamas: women's or girls', of man-made fibres (not... (exports USD 39m)

Exports of this lineUSD 3k; 8 more lines in the heading, USD 198m

Countries that export it well13

Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 215m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); China supplies 76 per cent (2).

USD 215mdown 11% on 2022
13

Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous solutionHS 310210

Comes fromSaudi Arabia 100%, 5 source countries

Nearest export strengthnone named

Exports of this lineUSD 55k

Countries that export it well27

Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 207m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); Saudi Arabia supplies 100 per cent (2).

USD 207mdown 37% on 2022
14

Yarn: (not sewing thread), multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by...HS 550922

Comes fromChina 100%, 5 source countries

Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: of jute or of other textile bast fibres of heading... (exports USD 76m)

Exports of this lineUSD 55k; 7 more lines in the heading, USD 281m

Countries that export it well7

Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 125m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 13 per cent (2); China supplies 100 per cent (2).

USD 125mup 5% on 2022
15

Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, printedHS 540754

Comes fromChina 86%, 6 source countries

Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: of jute or of other textile bast fibres of heading... (exports USD 76m)

Exports of this linenone recorded; 8 more lines in the heading, USD 1.2bn

Countries that export it well5

Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 112m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); China supplies 86 per cent (2).

USD 112mdown 16% on 2022
16

Lace: mechanically made, of man-made fibres in the piece, in strips or in motifs, (other than fabrics of headings...HS 580421

Comes fromChina 81%, 16 source countries

Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns... (exports USD 12m)

Exports of this lineUSD 10k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 16m

Countries that export it well13

Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 94m, top 12 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); China supplies 81 per cent (2).

USD 94mdown 3% on 2022
17

Fabrics, woven: plain weave, of polyester staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed...HS 551311

Comes fromChina 74%, 11 source countries

Nearest export strengthNightdresses and pyjamas: women's or girls', of man-made fibres (not... (exports USD 39m)

Exports of this lineUSD 38k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 81m

Countries that export it well12

Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 59m, top 22 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); China supplies 74 per cent (2).

USD 59mdown 21% on 2022
18

Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics of a width exceeding 30 cm, other than those of heading 60.01, containing by...HS 600410

Comes fromChina 85%, 21 source countries

Nearest export strengthFabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings... (exports USD 1m)

Exports of this lineUSD 319k

Countries that export it well14

Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 644m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 27 per cent (1); China supplies 85 per cent (2).

USD 644mup 18% on 2022
19

Fabrics: pile fabrics (excluding long pile and loop pile), of man-made fibres, knitted or crochetedHS 600192

Comes fromChina 99%, 14 source countries

Nearest export strengthnone named

Exports of this lineUSD 2m; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 161m

Countries that export it well3

Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 356m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 30 per cent (1); China supplies 99 per cent (2).

USD 356mdown 2% on 2022
20

Fabrics, woven: of flax, containing less than 85% flax, other than unbleached or bleachedHS 530929

Comes fromChina 98%, 12 source countries

Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns... (exports USD 543k)

Exports of this lineUSD 146k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 292m

Countries that export it well8

Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 257m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Bangladesh's export strengths in the top 42 per cent (1); China supplies 98 per cent (2).

USD 257mup 35% on 2022

The whole record for one line, as a document

Work email

The bill and its path, the sources and their unit values, who exports the line well, the nearest strengths, the public buyers where a country publishes them, and the method. We reply by email. Privacy

One line per customs heading. Products Bangladesh already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns of... imports USD 598m, exports USD 12m, top source Pakistan 49%
Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, dyed, plain weave... imports USD 119m, exports USD 2m, top source China 80%
Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of uncombed fibres, 85% or more by... imports USD 150m, exports USD 69m, top source India 70%
Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of uncombed fibres, 85% or more by... imports USD 61m, exports USD 9m, top source India 52%
Leather: further prepared after tanning or crusting, including... imports USD 50m, exports USD 6m, top source China 69%
Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns of... imports USD 43m, exports USD 543k, top source China 82%
Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, dyed, plain weave... imports USD 38m, exports USD 1m, top source China 84%
Footwear: parts, uppers and parts thereof, other than stiffeners imports USD 40m, exports USD 11m, top source China 96%
Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to... imports USD 52m, exports USD 27m, top source China 95%
Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to... imports USD 23m, exports USD 1m, top source China 89%

How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 659 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-03. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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What Bangladesh buys, and from whom: the trade lanes into Bangladesh.

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The twenty imports Bangladesh is best placed to replace.

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, less than 232.56 but not...HS 520523

Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: phosphatic, superphosphates, containing by weight 35% or more of diphosphorus...HS 310311

Fabrics, woven: containing less than 85% by weight of cotton, mixed mainly or solely with man-made fibres, weighing...HS 521142

Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of cotton, dyedHS 600622

Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns of different colours, weighing more than 100g/m2...HS 520842

Footwear: parts, outer soles and heels, of rubber or plasticsHS 640620

Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199

Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium phosphate)HS 310530

Cement clinkers (whether or not coloured)HS 252310

Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, dyed, 3-thread or 4-thread twill, including cross twill...HS 520932

Fabrics, woven: of polyester staple fibres n.e.c. in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple fibresHS 551511

Yarn, synthetic: filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), textured, of polyesters, not for retail sale, not...HS 540233

Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous solutionHS 310210

Yarn: (not sewing thread), multiple (folded) or cabled yarn, of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by...HS 550922

Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, printedHS 540754

Lace: mechanically made, of man-made fibres in the piece, in strips or in motifs, (other than fabrics of headings...HS 580421

Fabrics, woven: plain weave, of polyester staple fibres, containing less than 85% by weight of such fibres, mixed...HS 551311

Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics of a width exceeding 30 cm, other than those of heading 60.01, containing by...HS 600410

Fabrics: pile fabrics (excluding long pile and loop pile), of man-made fibres, knitted or crochetedHS 600192

Fabrics, woven: of flax, containing less than 85% flax, other than unbleached or bleachedHS 530929

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

A map of where to look.

Want the Bangladesh edition kept current?