Bangladesh鈥檚 apparel exports to the European Union experienced a noticeable slowdown in July 2025 following a strong rebound in June.
Total shipments in July rose to 鈧�1.68 billion, up 7.05 per cent year-on-year, significantly lower than June鈥檚 20.57 per cent surge to 鈧�1.35 billion, according to Eurostat data released on Monday.
Knitwear remained the leading export driver, earning 鈧�1.06 billion in July 2025, compared with 鈧�974 million in the same month of 2024 鈥� an 8.61 per cent rise.
Woven apparel also grew, though at a slower pace, with exports increasing 4.48 per cent year-on-year to 鈧�618 million.
Country鈥檚 apparel exporters described the July slowdown in the EU market as worrying.
For the first seven months of 2025, Bangladesh鈥檚 apparel exports to the EU reached 鈧�11.99 billion, a 16.45 per cent increase on the 鈧�10.29 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.
Knitwear accounted for 鈧�7.1 billion, while woven apparel contributed 鈧�4.88 billion in January鈥揓uly 2025.
In January-July of 2025, China retained its position as the EU鈥檚 largest apparel聽 exporter, shipping goods worth 鈧�14.06 billion, a 23 per cent increase on last year, data showed.
鈥業n these seven months, Bangladesh has achieved 12 per cent growth, but China has posted 23 per cent in the EU market. That shows how strong China is 鈥� and this should be a matter of serious concern for us,鈥� former Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Fazlul Hoque told 抖阴精品 on Tuesday.
He said that China鈥檚 surge in EU apparel shipments had come against the backdrop of declining sales to the United States, which had prompted Chinese exporters to redirect capacity to Europe.
Fazlu, also the managing director of Plummy Fashion, said that China鈥檚 ability to increase market share in any destination demonstrated its strength to outcompete rivals.
鈥榃e may have some advantages in the US market, but that is no reason to be complacent. For the EU, we must improve our productivity and competitiveness,鈥� he said.
Fazlu warned that rising business costs were already undermining exporters, saying that port handling charges had been increased by 41 per cent that week, which added further strain to manufacturers already grappling with gas and electricity shortages.
鈥業n such difficult times, measures that raise costs only weaken our competitiveness,鈥� he cautioned, urging the government to provide stable utility services and resist imposing additional charges.
The industry leader also called for a two-pronged strategy, emphasising the need to enhance productivity at factory level and to accelerate product diversification within the garment sector in order to sustain the growth rate in the EU market.
Eurostat data showed that the EU鈥檚 appetite for clothing surged in the first seven months of 2025, with imports climbing to a record 鈧�51.9 billion, up from 鈧�46.3 billion 鈥� a 12.17 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Turkey, by contrast, experienced a decline in shipments to the EU, with total exports falling to 鈧�5.05 billion from 鈧�5.46 billion a year earlier.
India鈥檚 apparel exports to the EU grew steadily to 鈧�3.13 billion, up from 鈧�2.74 billion 鈥� a rise of 14.14 per cent.
Pakistan saw moderate gains, with exports increasing by 14.74 per cent to 鈧�2.21 billion. Cambodia emerged as a standout, recording a striking 30.18 per cent growth in EU exports to 鈧�2.48 billion.
Indonesia, despite smaller in scale, posted steady growth with 鈧�590 million in exports, an 8.71 per cent increase in 2024.
