Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports fetched US$ 35.31 billion during the July–May period of the fiscal year 2025–26, registering a 3.41 percent decline compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year FY2024-25, according to the latest data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
The sector, which serves as the backbone of the country's export economy, faced minor contractions across most of its traditional and non-traditional destinations, though Canada emerged as a silver lining by maintaining positive growth momentum.
According to industry analyst Mohiuddin Rubel, Former Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the European Union (EU) retained its status as the largest destination for Bangladeshi apparel. The EU market accounted for nearly half of the total RMG exports, taking in 49.15 percent of the shipments.
However, export earnings from the EU dropped to US$ 17.36 billion, marking a year-on-year negative growth of 4.88 percent.
The United States remained the second-largest destination for local apparel, holding a 19.90 percent market share. RMG exports to the US stood at US$ 7.03 billion, reflecting a marginal year-on-year decrease of 0.04 percent.
Meanwhile, export trends varied across other major Western markets. The United Kingdom, holding an 11.38 percent share, saw a slight decline of 0.50 percent, bringing its total import value to $ 4.02 billion.
Conversely, Canada bucked the downward trend by posting a 2.27 percent year-on-year growth, with exports reaching $ 1.23 billion (a 3.47 percent share).
Exports to non-traditional markets also experienced a slowdown. The collective earnings from these emerging markets dropped by 5.95 percent to $ 5.68 billion, capturing a 16.09 percent share of the total RMG export basket.
In terms of product performance, both major segments of the RMG basket registered negative growth. The knitwear segment fell by 4.26 percent, while the woven garment segment recorded a 2.42 percent decrease during the 11-month period.