Import LCs worth Tk 57.1 billion (USD 977.22 million) were opened in September this year, reflecting a rise by 13.19 per cent over August.

The value of LCs opened during the first quarter of current fiscal (July to September 2003) was 26.45 percent higher compared to worth of LCs opened during corresponding period of previous fiscal (July to September 2002).

According to central bank statistics, the rise in worth of import LCs was mainly due to 1.25 percent increase in import of food grains, 19.45 percent in import of other consumer goods, 29.48 percent in industrial raw materials, 19.08 percent in POL,

57.80 percent in capital machinery, 19.33 percent in machinery for miscellaneous industries and 43.04 in others.

Import LCs for textile fabrics and garments totaled to Tk 13.175 billion (USD 227.6 million), which accounted for the highest (about 23.1 percent) of total imports during September.

It was 18.14 percent higher than the value of import LCs opened in the previous month.

The value of import LCs opened for miscellaneous industrial machinery during the month under review amounted to Tk 4.15 billion (USD 71.66 million), which accounted for 7.27 percent of the total import, was 8.31

percent down than value of import LCs in the previous months.

The import of capital machinery was over Tk 3.95 billion (USD 68.31 million) in September, which was 6.93 percent of total imports. It rose by 7.44 percent from imports during the previous month.

Import LCs opened for POL during May valued at Tk 5.2 billion

(USD 89.83 million), which was 9.11 percent of total import. It was 48.5 percent higher than the value of LCs from August 2003.

The data released by the central bank shows that the value of LCs opened for imports of food grains rose meagrely during September compared to other periods, mainly because there is sufficient stocks of food grains to meet internal demands.

The value of import LCs for rice was Tk 33 million (USD 0.57 million), which was only 0.06 percent of total imports and over 96.04 percent less than previous month. The value of import LCs for rice was Tk 834.3 million (USD 14.4 million) in august 2003.

Imports of wheat in September 2003 fell to Tk 733.6 million (USD 12.67 million), by 77.45 percent from the previous month. It was 1.28 percent of total value of import LCs opened during September.

The LCs opened for import of drugs and medicine in September 2003 totaled to Tk 254.3 million (USD 4.39 million), which was

34.64 percent down from the previous month. Import of cement in the month under review was Tk 30.9 million (USD 0.534 million), indicating a fall by 40.58 percent from the previous month.

Import of edible in September this year was Tk 2.56 billion (USD 44.14 million), which was 24.22 percent lower than the previous month. Milk food import also fell in September 2003. It totalled to Tk 210.6 million (USD 3.64 million), down by 14.91 percent from the previous month.

The value of import LCs for paper and paperboard in September 2003 was Tk 877.3 million (USD 15.15 million), 12.3 percent lower than August. Import of chemical and chemical products in the said month totaled to Tk 3.89 billion (USD 67.16 million), which was 7.76 per cent down than the previous month.

Import of raw cotton and synthetics in September amounted to Tk 3.9 billion (USD 67.33 million), showing a rise by 46.43 percent from the previous month. Import of clinker and limestone in September amounted to Tk 696.2 million (USD 12.02 million), showing a rise by 57.44 percent from the previous month.

Import of coal and coke in September went up to Tk 305.6 million (USD 5.28 million), by 20.17 percent from the previous month.