Japan is one of Bangladesh's key trade and development partners, with bilateral trade between the two nations standing at approximately $3.5 billion annually. Of this total, about 40 percent accounts for Bangladeshi exports to Japan, while the remainder comprises imports.
Bangladesh primarily exports woven and knit garments, as well as leather goods, to Japan. Conversely, imports from Japan consist largely of iron, steel, ships, vehicles, and machinery. To further boost exports to the Japanese market, Bangladesh signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on February 6 of this year, though its full benefits have yet to be fully realized in export figures.
To strengthen bilateral relations, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has embarked on a four-day state visit to Japan. During the tour, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and visit a Toyota manufacturing plant alongside JERA's LNG terminal.
According to the Japanese media outlet Nikkei Asia, Japan aims to invest 1 trillion Japanese yen (approximately $6.35 billion) in Bangladesh's private sector over the next five years. Japanese entrepreneurs have expressed strong interest in channeling these investments into the automobile sector, other manufacturing industries, and power plant construction.
Garments Lead Exports, Steel Dominates Imports
Data from Bangladesh Bank and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) shows that in the 2016–17 fiscal year, Bangladesh exported goods worth $1.0129 billion to Japan. By the 2025–26 fiscal year, this figure rose to $1.36 billion. Consequently, Bangladesh's exports to Japan have grown by nearly 35 percent over the past decade. In contrast, imports from Japan have increased by about 10 percent over the same period.
According to EPB statistics, Bangladesh currently exports approximately 400 different types of products to Japan.
