Bangladesh's Ministry of Commerce issued a notice on Sunday amending the Import Policy Order 2026-2029 with immediate effect. Under the new rules, specialised fabrics and materials required for producing niche categories such as seamless activewear, underwear, and functional apparel can be imported directly with a recommendation letter from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) or the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). The move is intended to clear obstacles in sourcing these non-mainstream apparel inputs.

Key Points

  • The Ministry of Commerce amended the Import Policy Order 2026-2029 on Sunday, with the changes taking effect immediately.
  • Import of specialised fabrics and materials now requires a recommendation letter from only one of BGMEA or BKMEA.
  • The previous requirements for Ministry of Commerce approval for knit fabric and yarn imports and the 2%/5% value caps on industrial machinery spare parts imports have also been scrapped.

BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem told The Daily Star that the amendments mainly correct contradictions, unclear wording, and unnecessary restrictions in the import policy order, making import procedures smoother for businesses.

On fabric and yarn imports, the previous policy required importers in some cases to obtain Ministry of Commerce approval before importing knit fabrics and yarn. Hatem argued that since imports were already being conducted under the utilisation declaration (UD) system and the import policy framework, this approval requirement served no practical purpose—it could force businesses to apply to the Ministry of Commerce for a permit for every single letter of credit, adding an unnecessary layer of paperwork. The amended policy has removed this approval step.

Restrictions on industrial machinery spare parts imports have likewise been abolished. Previously, spare parts imported in the first year could not exceed 2% of the machine's value, and no more than 5% in subsequent years. Hatem gave the example that if a machine breaks down and the required spare part costs more than the prescribed cap, the machine would simply have to sit idle. That restriction has now been removed.

Hatem also noted that the amendments addressed several other contradictions in the old policy, and that these adjustments would reduce business disruptions caused by policy inconsistencies.

Notably, this easing comes as Bangladesh's apparel industry expands from conventional basic items into higher-value, more specialised products such as activewear, underwear, and functional apparel. However, the notice did not provide any specific tariff concessions or quantity limits for the import of specialised fabrics and materials, only clarifying the conditions under which they may be imported.

Hatem welcomed the Ministry of Commerce's move, saying the corrections would help exporters obtain needed raw materials and machinery with fewer administrative hurdles.

Source: Import rules eased for specialised fabrics used in niche apparel · Originally published on 2026-09-28