Bangladesh’s apparel exports to India rise 16.5% despite land port restrictions

Bangladesh’s apparel exports to India have seen notable growth despite restrictions on land port shipments. According to the National Board of Revenue (NBR), exports reached US $ 86 million in August, up from US $ 69.2 million in the same month last year, marking an increase of approximately 16.5%.

Over the past three months (June–August), following the land port restrictions, apparel exports to India rose by 15%, totaling US $ 183.5 million compared to US $ 159.1 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Currently, all apparel shipments to India are routed via the Chittagong seaport. Prior to the land port ban, 69% of apparel exports were transported over land, 30% via Chittagong, and about 1% by air.

India remains Bangladesh’s eighth-largest export market and the largest destination within Asia. In the 2024–25 fiscal year, Bangladesh exported goods worth approximately US $ 1.82 billion to India, with apparel accounting for 36% of the total exports.

Over the last four months, India has imposed three separate restrictions on land port imports from Bangladesh. The first, on 17th May, specifically targeted apparel, allowing shipments only through Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports.

Under the new regulations, containers must be shipped from Chittagong to Nhava Sheva via Colombo in Sri Lanka, undergoing four separate handling stages. This process has increased both the time and cost of exports.