Half of Bangladeshi firms expect global growth in next two years

Half of Bangladeshi firms are very confident that their international businesses will grow over the next two years, according to a new HSBC survey.

The British multinational bank found that the local sentiment is stronger than the global average of 41 percent.

"Bangladeshi businesses show a generally positive outlook on impact and revenue in the face of trade and tariff uncertainty, broadly in line with the global average, even as they continue to experience some cost pressures," HSBC said as it released the findings today.

HSBC conducted its global trade pulse survey among 6,750 decision-makers in 17 countries to gauge views on tariffs and trade. In Bangladesh, the survey covered 250 officials in October this year to measure sentiment among international corporates.

HSBC said international firms are adjusting to a new trade environment and are using a range of strategies to manage shifting tariff pressures, rising costs and demands on working capital.

After a difficult first half of 2025, companies worldwide are regaining their footing and have a clearer picture of the evolving trade and tariff landscape, it added.

The survey found 67 percent of businesses feel more certain about the effects of trade policy on their operations than they did six months ago. Some 77 percent say they can easily understand recent policy changes.

"This growing sense of certainty is a crucial first step in enabling firms to make informed decisions and plan ahead."

Preparedness for shifting regulations has become a key factor behind business adaptability, helping them respond more quickly to policy changes and fine-tune their strategies, it said.

In Bangladesh, 88 percent of firms say they are informed and either well prepared or preparing for changing trade rules. This is slightly higher than the global average of 85 percent, according to the survey.

The HSBC survey found that nearly half of Bangladeshi corporations are diversifying suppliers, 9 percentage points above the global average. Another 48 percent are regionalising operations, and 46 percent are building up inventory.

Across industries, 45 percent of Bangladeshi firms in the transport and industrials sectors are increasing sales in Germany.

In the technology, media and telecommunications sector, 41 percent are lifting sales in the United Kingdom.

The report also found that 40 percent of Bangladeshi firms are increasing sales to consumers in France, above Bangladesh's average of 38 percent and well ahead of the global average of 16 percent.

"Additionally, businesses are seeking new trade corridors to build resilience against instability," HSBC said.

It added that globally, Europe and Southeast Asia are the preferred destinations for expansion, followed by North America and East or North Asia.

South Asian firms are leading the drive towards Europe, with 55 percent targeting growth there.

Meanwhile, businesses plan to scale back reliance on North America, followed by South America. "This reorientation signals a deliberate rebalancing of global trade flows."

"Bangladeshi businesses are also actively reorienting their trade footprint across Asia and the Western hemisphere, and are particularly likely to increase reliance within South Asia," HSBC said.

Business-to-business firms are at the forefront of this shift, with 66 percent increasing reliance on Europe, 47 percent on Latin America and 43 percent on Oceania.

"Bangladeshi businesses are quickly adapting to global shifts, standing out for their resilience and optimism," said HSBC Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer Md Mahbub ur Rahman, citing the survey.

"With the strength of our global network, we remain confident to connecting them with new avenues of opportunities, trade or investment alike, around the world," he said.

Vivek Ramachandran, head of Global Trade Solutions at HSBC, said that despite global negotiations and shifting tariffs, businesses appear to be settling into a rhythm of constant adaptation.

"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.