Govt to Import 20 Lakh Saline Bags

Bangladesh is projected to remain the world’s top cotton importer in MY2025-26, with imports reaching 8.5 million bales, ahead of Vietnam’s 8 million, according to the USDA. This surge aligns with a 10.86% year-on-year rise in Bangladesh’s RMG exports to $30.25 billion in the first 10 months of FY25.

Bangladesh's imports from Pakistan rose nearly 10% in 2024, reaching 19.14 lakh tonnes, driven by direct shipping and relaxed customs rules. The launch of the Karachi–Chattogram direct route in November 2024 cut delivery time from 30 to 11 days, slashing costs by a third. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) also eased customs inspections

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed a $58 million long-term loan to Renata PLC, a prominent pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh, to ease its working capital constraints amid US dollar liquidity challenges. The funding aims to stabilize Renata’s supply chain by enabling secure access to imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), vital for uninterrupted medicine production.

In Q3 of FY 2024–25, ACI Limited reported a consolidated loss of Tk 13.69 crore, a sharp decline from a Tk 1.65 crore profit in the same period last year, despite a 17% year-on-year revenue growth to Tk 3,573.50 crore.

In Q3 of FY 2024–25, Renata PLC’s profit fell 20% year-on-year to Tk 58 crore, despite a 16% rise in sales to Tk 1,070 crore, driven by strong domestic demand. However, profits declined due to a 100% surge in finance costs, reaching Tk 45 crore from Tk 23 crore, amid rising interest rates.

In Q3 of FY2024-25, Square Pharmaceuticals reported an 18% year-on-year profit increase, reaching Tk 605 crore, while revenue rose 22% to Tk 2,012 crore. Its EPS climbed to Tk 6.83 from Tk 5.55, and for the July–March period, EPS reached Tk 21.15, up from Tk 18.24.