Coal Overtakes Clinker as Bangladesh’s Top Import: FY 2025

Shamchul Islam; Dbarta24 — Reflecting major structural shifts in power generation and industrial production, coal has dethroned cement clinker as Bangladesh’s most imported commodity by volume, breaking a quarter-century record.

Data from the National Revenue Board (NBR) reveals that out of 158.6 million tonnes of goods imported through 46 customs stations in the 2025–26 fiscal year, the top 10 commodities accounted for 99.8 million tonnes.

This indicates that nearly 63 out of every 100 kilograms of goods entering the country consisted of just ten essential raw materials, fuels, and food items.

Coal Ends Clinker’s 25-Year Reign

For 25 consecutive fiscal years—from FY 2000–01 to FY 2024–25—cement clinker maintained its position as Bangladesh’s largest import by volume. However, the rapidly expanding energy sector has rewritten the leaderboard.

In FY 2025–26, coal imports reached a record 20.7 million tonnes, propelled primarily by six newly commissioned mega coal-fired power plants, which collectively consumed nearly 75 percent of the imported volume.

Once primarily utilized as fuel for brick kilns and heavy industrial boilers, coal now stands as the single largest commodity imported into the nation.

Meanwhile, clinker slipped to second place with an annual import volume of 19.2 million tonnes.

Construction Raw Materials and Fuel Dominate the Top 10

The top 10 list is heavily dominated by industrial inputs, construction materials, and energy supplies:

Coal: 20.7 million tonnes (1st place)
Cement Clinker: 19.2 million tonnes (2nd place)
Crushed Stone: 16.8 million tonnes (3rd place)
Slag: 8.3 million tonnes (4th place)
Wheat: 7.43 million tonnes (5th place)
Limestone: ~6 million tonnes (6th place)
Scrap Iron: ~5.7 million tonnes (7th place)
Boulder Stone: 5.5 million tonnes (8th place)
LNG: ~5.1 million tonnes (9th place)
Fly Ash: ~5 million tonnes (10th place)

Cement manufacturing inputs alone—clinker, slag, limestone, and fly ash—accounted for a combined 38.5 million tonnes, highlighting the massive scale of the country’s cement manufacturing sector.

Similarly, infrastructure development drove substantial demand for aggregates. Crushed stone used in road and building construction ranked third, while boulder stone used for river training and mega infrastructure projects stood eighth.

For steel production, scrap metal imports reached 5.7 million tonnes, feeding domestic re-rolling mills to produce steel billets and rods.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ranked ninth at 5.1 million tonnes, as the nation continues importing gas to bridge domestic supply shortfalls for the national grid.

Wheat: The Sole Consumer Good

Wheat emerged as the only food grain and consumer good to make the top 10 list, ranking fifth at 7.43 million tonnes. Domestic farming fulfills only about 15 percent of national demand, leaving 85 percent reliant on international trade.

Economic Implications

The import profile highlights that Bangladesh’s heavy import volume is not driven by direct consumer consumption, but by industrial output, power generation, and nation-building infrastructure.

Commenting on the trend, Amirul Haq, President of the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a leading entrepreneur in the cement and consumer goods sectors, noted:

“The majority of the highest-volume imports are industrial raw materials, energy, and construction supplies. Five of these items belong directly to the cement and steel industries. As economic activities and investments expand, the demand for these commodities will continue to grow.”