Most Bangladeshi companies prepare for growth as trade clarity HSBC Survey
Business Report :
Half of Bangladeshi companies expect their international business to grow over the next two years, reflecting stronger optimism than the global average of 41 percent, according to a new HSBC Global Trade Pulse survey released Wednesday.
The British multinational bank said Bangladeshi firms maintain a “generally positive outlook” on revenue and trade impact despite tariff uncertainties and rising operational costs.
The survey gathered insights from 6,750 corporate decision-makers across 17 markets. In Bangladesh, 250 senior officials were interviewed in October 2025 to assess business sentiment amid shifting global trade dynamics.
Bangladeshi firms show higher preparedness
HSBC noted that international firms worldwide are adjusting to a new trade environment shaped by tariff pressures, higher costs and tighter working capital. After a sluggish first half of 2025, global companies are beginning to regain momentum as trade rules become clearer.
The survey found 67 percent of businesses globally now feel more certain about the effects of trade policy than six months ago, and 77 percent say they understand recent policy changes.
“This growing sense of certainty is a crucial first step in enabling firms to make informed decisions and plan ahead,” HSBC said.
In Bangladesh, confidence appears even higher: 88 percent of firms say they are informed and either well prepared or preparing for changing trade rules, slightly above the global average of 85 percent.
Shift in strategies
The survey shows Bangladeshi companies are diversifying and recalibrating supply chains faster than many of their global counterparts. Nearly half of local corporations are diversifying suppliers 9 percentage points above the global average. Another 48 percent are regionalising operations, while 46 percent are building up inventory to manage disruptions.
Sector-wise, 45 percent of Bangladeshi companies in transport and industrials are increasing sales in Germany. In technology, media and telecommunications, 41 percent are expanding in the UK. The survey also found 40 percent of firms boosting sales in France, far above the global average of 16 percent.
Businesses are increasingly looking for new trade corridors to strengthen resilience. Globally, Europe and Southeast Asia remain top expansion choices, followed by North America and East or North Asia.
Bangladeshi firms showing resilience and optimism
“Bangladeshi businesses are quickly adapting to global shifts, standing out for their resilience and optimism,” said HSBC Bangladesh CEO Md Mahbub ur Rahman.
“With the strength of our global network, we remain confident in connecting them with new avenues of opportunities, trade or investment alike.”
Vivek Ramachandran, head of Global Trade Solutions at HSBC, said that despite shifting tariff negotiations, firms appear to be adapting more effectively.
“Improved clarity over trade and tariffs has emboldened businesses to plan ahead, with many seeing international trade not as a risk, but as an opportunity to reinvent,” he added.