Reconditioned car imports through Bangladesh’s Chattogram Port have fallen by 55 percent in March and April 2026 compared to the same period last year. The decline began after a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran in late February, which disrupted global markets and raised fuel prices. In 2025, the port handled an average of 1,200 cars per month, but this year’s March and April saw only 497 and 744 units respectively. The port’s car sheds, which usually remain full, are now largely empty.

Industry figures attribute the slump to multiple factors including the Middle East conflict, rising fuel costs, and a slowdown in domestic economic activity. Former BARVIDA secretary Habibur Rahman said reduced consumer purchasing power and stalled business conditions have sharply cut vehicle sales and imports. Government and corporate car purchases have also declined due to halted loan facilities and project suspensions.

Customs officials reported that revenue from reconditioned car imports dropped from about Tk 800 crore in the first four months of 2025 to Tk 545 crore in the same period this year, reflecting the broader economic strain on the sector.