Food exports in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Food exports was 3.4% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in Bangladesh, 1977–2018
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2018, food exports in Bangladesh stood at 3.4%.
That represents a change of up 8.8% on the previous year and down 29.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in Bangladesh peaked at 20.2% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2012.
That places Bangladesh 166th out of 196 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food exports in Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 13.0% | — |
| 1978 | 13.7% | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 12.7% | -7.0% |
| 1980 | 12.5% | -2.1% |
| 1981 | 15.7% | +26.1% |
| 1982 | 20.0% | +27.2% |
| 1983 | 19.3% | -3.4% |
| 1984 | 18.0% | -6.7% |
| 1985 | 17.9% | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 20.2% | +12.7% |
| 1987 | 18.6% | -7.7% |
| 1989 | 17.9% | -4.1% |
| 1990 | 14.3% | -19.9% |
| 1991 | 12.6% | -11.8% |
| 1992 | 11.0% | -12.8% |
| 1993 | 11.8% | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 13.6% | +14.9% |
| 1995 | 10.4% | -23.2% |
| 1996 | 10.1% | -3.4% |
| 1997 | 8.4% | -17.2% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | -13.5% |
| 2000 | 7.6% | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 6.1% | -20.3% |
| 2002 | 6.8% | +12.4% |
| 2003 | 5.8% | -15.1% |
| 2004 | 6.2% | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 6.2% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 5.9% | -4.7% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 4.8% | -26.1% |
| 2009 | 3.7% | -23.3% |
| 2010 | 4.0% | +9.1% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 2.6% | -31.5% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | +49.4% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | -31.5% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | +12.2% |
| 2017 | 3.1% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | +8.8% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 3.4% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.6%, 16% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 3.4% is below the median for South Asia, which is 19.2%, 18% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.2% | 12.7% | 13.7% | 3 |
| 1980s | 17.8% | 12.5% | 20.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 11.1% | 7.2% | 14.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.0% | 3.7% | 7.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.3% | 2.6% | 4.0% | 8 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More private sector data for Bangladesh
- Merchandise trade 25.8% (2025)
- Food imports 13.0% (2018)
- Manufactures imports 67.0% (2018)
- Merchandise imports 69.37 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 94.5% (2018)
- Merchandise exports 48.17 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 274.16 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1056 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.95 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 394.87 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Bangladesh?
- Food exports in Bangladesh was 3.4% in 2018, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 20.2% in 1986.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2012.
- How does Bangladesh rank for food exports?
- Bangladesh ranks 166th out of 196 countries with data for 2018.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.