China-Bangladesh Bilateral Trade Hits US$12.8bn in First Half of 2026: Embassy

Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and China reached a record US$12.8 billion in the first half of 2026, marking a 10.6 percent increase from the same period a year earlier, the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka said on Thursday.

The embassy made the disclosure in a statement issued to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, highlighting growing cooperation between the two countries in trade, investment, infrastructure and healthcare.

China has remained Bangladesh’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, from 2010 to 2025, according to the statement.

Bangladeshi agricultural products such as fresh mangoes and jackfruits have gained access to the Chinese market, while negotiations are continuing to secure market access for guavas and aromatic rice.

The two countries are also carrying out a joint action plan aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s export capacity and improving the composition of bilateral trade, the embassy said.

China’s cumulative investment in Bangladesh stood at around US$3.6 billion as of June 2026, while Chinese direct investment increased by about 50 percent year on year in 2025, according to the statement.

Since the formation of Bangladesh’s new government, five Chinese-invested companies have committed more than US$100 million to projects in the country, generating nearly 20,000 jobs, the embassy said.

The China Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram was officially launched in July 2026 and has attracted intended investments worth about US$500 million. The zone is focused on sectors including textiles and garments, machinery manufacturing, electronics and information technology, biomedicine and green energy.

The embassy also highlighted infrastructure cooperation, citing the Padma Bridge, built by a Chinese company, as a landmark project linking Dhaka with 21 districts in southwestern Bangladesh.

According to the statement, the bridge is estimated to add 1.23 percentage points to Bangladesh’s annual GDP growth while lowering the poverty rate by 0.84 percentage points.

Chinese companies have also been involved in coal-fired, solar and wind power projects with a combined installed capacity of more than 1,000 megawatts, it said.

Several China-assisted projects are currently under construction, including a burn unit at Chattogram Medical College Hospital and the renovation of Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge-6.

Other ongoing projects include a general hospital, a women’s residential hall at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge-9 and an emergency management centre, according to the embassy.

China has also provided Bangladesh with more than US$4 million in humanitarian and healthcare assistance in recent years, the statement said.

The support included dengue and COVID-19 testing kits, medicines, ventilators for burn treatment, robotic rehabilitation equipment and emergency supplies for flood victims.

China has additionally supported the construction of a 1,000-bed general hospital and the burn unit at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

The embassy said the initiatives demonstrated China’s support for Bangladesh during times of need and its efforts to contribute to the health and well-being of the Bangladeshi people.