Import spending up 22pc in Jul-Dec
Unb, Dhaka
Import spending increased 22 percent to US$ 8.8 billion during the first half of the current fiscal year as compared to the same period last fiscal, due mainly to substantial imports of food items and scrap vessels.But the growth in import of capital machinery remained slow at about 12 percent to $820 million during the July-December period of FY 2006-07 against the growth of previous fiscal, according to the Bangladesh Bank figure released Thursday. Sugar imports were up 272 percent to $204 million, wheat 34 percent to $238 million, milk food 30 percent to $59 million, pulses 27 percent to $118 million and scrap vessels 122 percent to $265 million. Imports registered significant increase also on spices (94 percent), petroleum and petroleum products (49 percent) and intermediate goods 46 percent. Authorised dealer banks opened Letters of Credit (LCs) worth $1,257 million to import textile fabrics and accessories for readymade garment factories during the period while $427 million for raw cotton and synthetic fibre, $258 million for yarn and $ 88 million for pharmaceutical raw materials. Other major imports included edible oil ($300 million), drugs and medicine ($25 million), oilseeds ($ 38 million), clinker and limestone (102 million), and chemical and chemical products including fertiliser ($816 million).
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