Trade Scenario Between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia

Both Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia are members of OIC and share common views on many international and regional issues. The two countries are trading partners and are willing to further develop trade relations.

2.   The trade balance between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia is stated below (Value in million US$) 

3.         It transpires from the above table that though the export of Bangladesh has been increasing but the balance of trade has always been in favour of Saudi Arabia. There is an urgent need for measures for reducing the trade gap to the favour of Bangladesh.

4.         The main export items from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia are Vegetables, Frozen fish, Potato flakes,  Jute yarn and twine, Jute manufactures, Woven garments, Knitwear, Rice, Leather goods including footwear, Processed  food, Tea, Hats and  other headgear, Fruits, Home textile, Sacks & badgs, Tents, Mustard oil, Spices, Betel nut, Cut flower & foliage, Turmeric etc. A list showing commodity-wise exports from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia during 2024-2025 May kindly be seen at Annexure-A.

5.         The items that we import from Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh are Vegetable products, Prepared foodstuffs, Mineral products, Chemical products, Organic chemicals, Plastic and Rubber articles, Pulp of wood, Textile & textile articles, Articles of stone, Base metals and articles, Machinery and mechanical appliances, Electrical machinery, Dates, Optical etc.

6.         Potential items of Bangladesh to export in Saudi Arabia are Vegetables, Potato, Pharmaceuticals, RMG, Agro processed food, Footwear, Jute Goods, Plastic products,  Ceramic Tableware, Accumulator battery etc.    

7.         Activities taken by Export Promotion Bureau to expand export to Saudi Arabia:           

           Export Promotion Bureau organized private sector participation in the following  fairs held in Saudi Arabia:

(1)        Foodex, Saudia;

(2)        Jedda Int’l Trade Fair.

8.         In view of the above, the following points may be taken into consideration in order to boost up Bangladesh export to Saudi Arabia :

1.         Saudi Arabia having a good economy can consider granting concessional duty and zero tariff to import from Bangladesh as an LDC. A list of 34 items for which Bangladesh may request for Duty free Access by Saudi Arabia is also  enclosed herewith in Annexure –‘B’;  

2.         To boost up our export to Saudi Arabia, importers of Saudi Arabia may be persuaded to import more Frozen fish, RMG, Cut flower & foliage, Agro process food, Vegetable, Pharmaceutical, Jute goods, Halal meat, Tea etc;

3.         Necessary steps may be taken for signing of MOU between DLS (Department of Live Stock), Bangladesh and Saudi Food & Drug Authority to enhance our export of Halal meat ;

4.         Saudi Govt. may be urged upon to let us know the Health Standards of food items and agro-products including other products being exported from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia for transmitting the same to the exporters of Bangladesh to follow the compliance requirement of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. An MOU may be signed between BSTI (Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute) and Saudi Food & Drug Authority to enhance our export of food items.;

5.         Exchange of trade delegation between the two countries both at private and govt. level should take place to further develop bilateral trade;

6.         Saudi Arabian investors may be convinced to invest in the area of Textiles, Leather products, Plastic sector and Agro-based industry in Bangladesh;

7.         Single Country Trade Fair in Saudi Arabia may be encouraged to familiarize our products and quality.

Annexure –‘A’

FY 2024-25

Value in US$

Annexure –‘B’

List of Bangladesh Products for which Duty-free

Access may be sought to Saudi-Arabia