The country鈥檚 readymade garment exports to its major destinations witnessed a moderate growth in the July-August period of the current financial year of 2025-26.
According to the country-wise detailed export data from the Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh exported RMG items worth $7.13 billion in July-August of FY26, an increase of 9.63 per cent from $6.50 billion in the same period of FY25.
Apparel exporters said that thanks to the growing demands of brands and retailers, export earnings maintained a growth momentum.
According to the EPB data, in the July-August period of FY26, Bangladesh secured $3.4 billion from European Union countries, the largest market for Bangladeshi manufacturers.
The earnings are 6.6 per cent higher than the $3.19 billion earned in the same period of FY25.
The export earnings from the EU accounted for 47.82 per cent of the total earnings.
Export earnings from the United States witnessed a robust growth of 12.33 per cent to $1.44 billion, up from $1.28 billion in the July-August period of FY25, defying the tariff fears.
The US, the largest single-country destination for Bangladeshi exporters, represented a 20.30 per cent share of the total earnings.
Fetching a strong positive growth of 15.51 per cent, Bangladeshi apparel exporters earned $882.62 million in July-August of FY26 from the United Kingdom, up from $764.8 billion in the same period of FY25, the EPB data showed.
From Canada, the RMG sector earned $241.8 million in July-August of FY26, 13.69 per cent more than the $212.68 million earned in the same period of FY25.
In July-August of FY26, Germany remained the largest export destination among EU countries, from which Bangladeshi RMG manufacturers secured $797.71 million.
However, the earnings witnessed a slight decline of 1.53 per cent from $810.13 million in the same period of FY25, showed the EPB data compiled by the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange, a private initiative working to promote the apparel and textile industry in Bangladesh.
The export earnings from Spain stood at $721.29 million, France at $320.84 million, Italy at $232.02 million, Poland at $290.68 million and the Netherlands at $405.44 million.
Regarding apparel exports, countries like the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU are considered traditional markets, while other countries are deemed non-traditional ones. Japan, Australia, Russia, India, China, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Brazil and Mexico are major non-traditional export destinations.
Export earnings from the non-traditional market also demonstrated positive growth, with an overall surge of 10.44 per cent reaching $1.14 billion, which was $1.04 billion in the same period of FY25.
The non-traditional market represented 16.11 per cent of Bangladesh鈥檚 total RMG exports.
Among these markets, Japan led with imports worth $224.19 million from Bangladesh, followed by India at $144.21 million, Australia at $141.10 million, and South Korea at $78.84 million.
However, exports to Australia experienced a decline of 6.43 per cent.
RMG exports to Turkey and Mexico also witnessed significant earnings, amounting to $51 million and $53 million, respectively, in the July-August period of FY26.
Mohiuddin Rubel, former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that Bangladesh鈥檚 current growth in exports significantly depended on the EU and the US.
The moderate growth in the non-traditional market underscores the importance of further research and focus in this category, as it possesses substantial growth potential, which will also help balance reliance on traditional markets, he added.
