Bangladesh’s RMG exports rise 5.82pc to $13.75 billion in July-October

Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports grew 5.82 percent year-on-year to $13.75 billion in the first four months of FY2026-27, compared to $12.99 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data compiled by Bangladesh Apparel Voice (BAV).

Knitwear exports performed better than woven garments during the July-October period, rising 6.79 percent to $7.73 billion, while woven exports increased 4.60 percent to $6.02 billion. Knitwear accounted for 56.2 percent of the country's total RMG exports.

The country's total garment exports increased by $756 million during the period, with the United States contributing the largest share of the growth, followed by non-traditional markets and the European Union.

Exports to the US increased 10.16 percent to $2.85 billion, adding $262.9 million to the overall growth. The US accounted for 20.73 percent of Bangladesh's total RMG exports, up from 19.92 percent a year earlier.

Shipments of woven garments to the US rose 10.22 percent to $1.75 billion, while knitwear exports grew 10.06 percent to $1.10 billion. The US market absorbed 29.08 percent of Bangladesh's total woven exports.

The European Union remained the largest destination for Bangladesh's RMG products, with exports reaching $6.43 billion, up 2.79 percent year-on-year. However, its share of total exports declined to 46.79 percent from 48.17 percent.

Knitwear exports to the EU increased 4.28 percent, while woven exports recorded marginal growth of 0.29 percent.

Spain emerged as the largest single EU market, with exports rising 13.36 percent to $1.448 billion, narrowly surpassing Germany, where exports remained almost unchanged at $1.439 billion, with a marginal growth of 0.01 percent.

Among other major EU destinations, exports to the Netherlands increased 8.68 percent to $784.6 million, Poland 2.85 percent to $545.9 million, Sweden 10.59 percent to $240.1 million and Romania 45.28 percent to $68.8 million.

However, exports declined to France by 7.87 percent to $611.1 million, Italy by 4.29 percent to $439.4 million, Denmark by 12.10 percent to $270.1 million and Belgium by 2.14 percent to $172.5 million.

Exports to the United Kingdom rose 6.92 percent to $1.64 billion, driven by an 11.30 percent increase in knitwear shipments to $1.14 billion. Woven exports to the UK, however, fell 1.78 percent to $504 million.

Shipments to Canada increased 2.41 percent to $452.9 million.

Exports to non-traditional markets grew 9.30 percent to $2.37 billion, raising their combined share of Bangladesh's total RMG exports to 17.25 percent from 16.70 percent a year earlier.

Turkey recorded the highest growth among these markets, with exports more than doubling to $206.5 million, up 107.05 percent. Knitwear shipments to the country surged 117.11 percent, while woven exports increased 92.74 percent. Turkey alone accounted for around 53 percent of the growth in exports to non-traditional markets.

Japan remained the largest non-traditional market, with exports rising 2.40 percent to $437.3 million.

Other markets also posted growth, including Australia, up 3.01 percent to $264 million; South Korea, up 5.82 percent to $151.3 million; Mexico, up 15.69 percent to $113.3 million; the United Arab Emirates, up 19.89 percent to $101.4 million; Brazil, up 36.79 percent to $78.3 million; and South Africa, up 15.24 percent to $49.3 million.

In contrast, exports declined to India by 5.38 percent to $250.9 million, China by 3.17 percent to $91.1 million, Russia by 16.04 percent to $55.7 million and New Zealand by 10.55 percent to $30.9 million.

Despite the growth in non-traditional markets, the European Union and the United States together accounted for 67.5 percent of Bangladesh's total RMG exports during July-October FY2026-27, slightly lower than 68.1 percent in the corresponding period a year earlier.

The decline in their combined share reflects a gradual diversification of export destinations, supported by faster growth in non-traditional markets compared to the EU.