Dhaka, September 15- Despite the sharp rise in July and a dip in August, Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) exports have experienced a 9.63 percent year-on-year growth in the first two months of FY 2025–26, according to Daily Times of Bangladesh.
The surge is driven by strong demand in key markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and several other countries, with exports to the US market growing by 12.33 percent year-on-year in the two months, compared to 6.6 percent growth in the European Union (EU).
According to the latest data from the Export Promotion Bureau, exports to the US saw an impressive 12.33 percent increase, reaching $1.45 billion in the July–August period. This accounts for 20.30 percent of total RMG exports, making the US Bangladesh’s second-largest export destination.
The strong performance in this market can be attributed to American buyers seeking cost-effective apparel, providing Bangladesh with a valuable opportunity to further expand its RMG sector, said exporters.
Exports to the European Union, which remains Bangladesh’s largest export destination, also showed positive growth, rising by 6.6 percent to a total of $3.41 billion. The EU accounted for 47.82 percent of total RMG exports.
However, growth was uneven across different EU countries. While Poland, Spain, and the Netherlands experienced growth rates of 20.41 percent, 18.79 percent, and 13.75 percent, respectively, Germany reported a slight decline of 1.53 percent, indicating challenges in that market.
Exports to non-traditional markets also showed a positive trend, growing by 10.44 percent to $1.15 billion, representing 16.11 percent of total RMG exports. Japan and India posted impressive growth rates of 15.61 percent and 18.67 percent, respectively, indicating strong demand for Bangladesh’s apparel in these markets. However, exports to Australia fell by 6.43 percent, highlighting the challenges in the Australian market.
Mohiuddin Rubel, Managing Director of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange, stressed that sustaining growth will depend on factors such as tariff policies, supply chain efficiency, and meeting sustainability standards in the US market.
“Bangladesh’s RMG industry has the potential to further strengthen its position, especially in the American market, provided it remains competitive,” Rubel said.
The EPB data underscores a mix of opportunities and challenges for the sector. While Bangladesh’s RMG exports continue to perform well in the US and certain EU markets, the decline in exports to Germany and Australia calls for a closer look at evolving market dynamics to sustain and enhance growth across all regions.
In total, Bangladesh’s RMG sector earned $7.13 billion in July–August, a 9.63 percent year-on-year increase. This growth was driven by both knitwear and woven garments, which saw increases of 9.11 percent and 10.28 percent, respectively.
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