National Board of Revenue (NBR) has imposed an immediate restriction on yarn imports through land ports in a bid to safeguard the domestic textile and spinning sectors. The move follows a recent recommendation by the commerce ministry, which raised concerns over the adverse impact of rising raw material imports on local manufacturers.
According to the ministry, imported yarn often declared at lower values when entering through land ports—has made it difficult for domestic producers to compete, causing significant financial losses. The recommendation was made in response to repeated appeals from local textile millers.
As per the NBR notification issued on April 13th, yarn imports are now prohibited through five key land ports: Benapole, Bhomra, Banglabandha, Burimari, and Sonamasjid. The restriction takes effect immediately. Yarn imports via these ports had been permitted since January 2023 to address a post-pandemic surge in demand.
In a separate development, India recently withdrew the transshipment facility for Bangladeshi exports to third countries via its land routes to Indian ports and airports. While India has stated that the move will not affect Bangladesh’s trade with Nepal and Bhutan, the decision is likely to increase costs for Bangladeshi apparel exporters—many of whom rely on Indian airports, particularly New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, for shipments to Western markets. Previously, exporters utilized the Benapole–Petrapole land route to transport goods to Indian hubs in Kolkata and Delhi for air shipment abroad.
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