Import LC Exchange Rate Set at Tk123.80-125

Bangladesh’s fresh fruit imports fell to $128.51 million in the first half of FY25, the lowest in three years, due to the taka’s depreciation and high import duties. Letters of credit (LC) openings for fruit imports declined 3.29% year-on-year to $140.5 million in July-December FY25.

Bangladesh’s commercial banks saw a modest rise in dollar holdings in January 2025, reaching $4,537 million from December’s five-year low of $4,255 million. The increase was driven by a 23.61% year-on-year growth in remittance inflows, totaling $15.96 billion for July–January FY25, and an 11.58% rise in export earnings to $28.97 billion.

Banks' excess liquid assets surged by Tk51,696 crore year-on-year, reaching Tk2.15 lakh crore in December 2024 due to weak private sector investment amid political instability. Meanwhile, excess cash declined by Tk2,291 crore to Tk17,675 crore.

In January 2025, Bangladesh saw a 5.4% YoY decline in import LC openings, totaling $6.13 billion, due to lower demand and overdue LC payments. Weaker banks struggled to open new LCs, while state-owned banks prioritized clearing past dues.

Bangladesh's imports grew 3.53% YoY to $32 billion in H1 FY25, rebounding from a 20% decline the previous year, driven by higher exports and remittances. December 2024 saw a 30% YoY surge in imports, supported by increased industrial raw material demand for export-oriented industries.

In the first nine months of 2024, Bangladesh's rescheduled defaulted loans rose by Tk1,922 crore, reaching Tk20,732 crore, up from Tk18,810 crore in the same period of 2023. Despite rescheduling, non-performing loans surged to Tk2.85 lakh crore, nearly 17% of total outstanding loans (Tk16.83 lakh crore) as of September 2024.