The country’s largest customs station, the Chattogram Custom House, registered a notable rise in revenue collection in January of the 2025–26 fiscal year, though it fell short of its monthly target.
According to official statistics, revenue collection in January stood at Tk 7,000 crore in FY2025–26, up from Tk 6,079.20 crore in the same month of FY2024–25. This marks an increase of Tk 920.80 crore, or 15.15 percent year-on-year.
Despite the growth, the collection did not meet the January target of Tk 9,023 crore. The shortfall amounted to Tk 2,023 crore, or 22.42 percent below the target.
Seven-month performance
During the July–January period of FY2025–26, total revenue collection reached Tk 45,002.37 crore, compared with Tk 41,575.15 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. This reflects an increase of Tk 3,427.22 crore, or 8.24 percent.
However, against a target of Tk 55,383 crore for the seven-month period, the customs house recorded a deficit of Tk 10,380.63 crore, or 18.74 percent.
Sharif Mohammad Al Amin, Assistant Commissioner and spokesperson for Chattogram Customs, attributed the revenue growth to a rise in imports ahead of Ramadan. He said imports.3 typically grow by around 10 percent annually, and the seasonal surge in consumer goods ahead of the holy month has further boosted revenue collection. He added that this upward trend in imports is expected to continue with the formation of a new government.
Sharp rise in imports
Import volumes recorded a significant increase in January. Total imports in January FY2025–26 stood at 15.61 million metric tonnes, up from 8.43 million metric tonnes in January of the previous fiscal year — an increase of 2.14 million metric tonnes, or 25.38 percent.
At the same time, the dutiable value of imported goods rose by 17.30 percent. The value increased from Tk 45,347.13 crore in January FY2024–25 to Tk 53,191.89 crore in January FY2025–26.
Over the seven-month July–January period, total imports grew by 17.68 percent — from 51.57 million metric tonnes in FY2024–25 to 66.68 million metric tonnes in the current fiscal year.
The dutiable value of imports during this period also increased by 12.34 percent. It rose from Tk 2,88,438.59 crore in the first seven months of FY2024–25 to Tk 3,24,31.24 crore in the same period of FY2025–26.
Ramadan-driven consumer imports
Traders said imports of consumer goods have increased significantly ahead of Ramadan compared to recent years. Items such as edible oil, chickpeas, dates, lentils, spices, wheat, apples, oranges, grapes and other fruits saw higher import volumes.
Dr Mohammad Shah Alam, Deputy Director of the Plant Quarantine Station at Chattogram Sea Port, said the Agriculture Department’s quarantine station has been expediting the Import Permit (IP) process to ensure faster clearance of goods. He noted that shipments are being cleared promptly after issuance of permits to avoid any supply shortages in the domestic market.
Imports of consumer goods continued to rise throughout February in preparation for Ramadan, he added.
In recent years, imports had faced challenges due to the dollar crisis and difficulties in opening letters of credit (LCs). Officials and traders said the situation has improved considerably this year, with banks now able to open LCs according to importers’ needs. As a result, both import volumes and customs duty collections increased in January.
Around 92 percent of the country’s import and export trade is handled through the Chittagong Port, the nation’s main seaport. The Chittagong Custom House collects duties on goods imported through the port, as well as revenue from the airport and airfreight branch at Shah Amanat International Airport.
On average, approximately 2,000 bills of entry for imported goods and about 5,000 export bills are processed daily by the Chittagong Custom House.
