Bangladeshi exporters and importers are facing elevated freight charges to the US and Europe in the aftermath of recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Reports maintained this adding these attacks, attributed to Iran-backed Houthis controlling much of Yemen, aimed to exert pressure on Israel in light of its conflict with Palestinian Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, citing AFP.
In response to the attacks, major shipping lines suspended travel through the Red Sea and adjacent Suez Canal, disrupting one of the world’s busiest shipping routes connecting Africa and Asia.
Approximately 12 per cent of global trade, including 30 per cent of the world’s shipping container volume, relies on the Red Sea route for trade with West Asia, Africa, and Europe, notably impacting South Asian exports.
Shipping executives revealed that over 70 per cent of Bangladesh’s export-laden containers destined for the EU, US East Coast, and Canada traverse the Red Sea.
Simultaneously, 8 to 10 per cent of the country’s imports utilise this route.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
