The country鈥檚 export earnings experienced a 5.64-per cent growth reaching $12.31 billion in July-September period of the 2025-26 financial year, primarily driven by readymade garments.
According to the latest data published on Sunday by the Export Promotion Bureau, the export earnings were $11.65 billion in the corresponding period of FY25.
However, export earnings in the month of September witnessed a decline of 4.61 per cent to $3.62 billion, lower than that of $3.80 billion in September 2024.
Exporters said that August, September, and October were a lean season for them, as there were fewer orders and less UD inquiries, which impacted the exports in the period.
Moreover, due to the reciprocal tariff imposed by the United States, orders from the destination declined and created more competition in Europe.
Earnings in August also experienced a negative growth.
In July-September of FY26, the RMG sector, the country鈥檚 highest export revenue earner, bagged $9.97 billion, fetching a 4.79 per cent growth from $6.51 billion in July-September of FY25.
In the single month of September 2025, the sector earned $2.84 billion, a 5.66-per cent decline from that of $3.01 billion in September 2024, the EPB data stated.
Two segments of the RMG, woven and knitwear, witnessed a decline of over 5 per cent in the export earnings in September this year.
However, in the first three months of FY26, knitwear exports experienced a growth of 4.31 per cent to $5.58 billion, while those of woven garments saw an increase of 5.41 per cent to $4.40 billion.
Among the other notable sectors, home textiles experienced a growth of 7.98 per cent to $206.62 million in July-September of FY26, up from $191.35 million in the same period of FY25.
Agricultural sector posted a narrow growth of 1.54 per cent to $276.57 million, up from that of $272.38 million in July-September of the past financial year.
In the first three months of FY26, export earnings from leather and leather goods increased by 10.6 per cent to $319.74 million, which was $289.09 million in the same period of the previous financial year.
Engineering products experienced a positive growth of 45.16 per cent to $165.37 million, which was $113.92 million in July-September of FY25.
Export earnings from jute and jute goods witnessed a positive growth of 3.73 per cent reaching $192.89 million in the first three months of FY26, which were $185.96 million in the same period of FY25, the EPB data showed.
Even though the major exporting items of the country witnessed a positive growth in July-September of FY26, most of the items experienced a decline in export earnings in the single month of September, as per the EPB data.
Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that RMG exports declined due to the impact of US tariff shock, which was also been reflected in the country鈥檚 overall export earnings.
鈥楢 number of factories got fewer orders than usual, which impacted the exports,鈥� he said.
Moreover, Bangladeshi exporters are encountering increasing competition on the EU and other markets, as Chinese and Indian manufacturers are seeking to expand their exports there to offset losses on the US market.
鈥榃e fear that this slowdown may persist over the next two to three months. However, we expect exports to recover once international buyers adjust to the new tariff regime,鈥� Hatem added.
Echoing the sentiment, Inamul Haq Khan, senior vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, told 抖阴精品 that August, September and October were lean periods for RMG items.
鈥楾here were fewer orders in the sector. Moreover, the demand on the US market is also witnessing an overall decline due to tariffs,鈥� he added.
He said that the slowdown might continue for the next one or two months and exports might witness a rebound starting November and December.
Exporters noted that a number of US buyers were trying to push a part of the additional 20 per cent reciprocal tariff on manufacturers.
鈥業t is not feasible for exporters to absorb this additional burden, as they are already grappling with multiple challenges, including the initial tariff adjustments and a continuous rise in production costs,鈥� said Mohammad Hatem.
Inamul Haq Khan said that the buyers were creating pressure on manufacturers, but large-scale manufacturers like him were able to avoid the pressure.
鈥楤ut small and medium-sized manufacturers were forced to absorb a part of the tariff, especially from the Chattogram region,鈥� he added.
Bangladesh exported goods worth $48.28 billion in FY25, an 8.55-per cent increase from that of $44.47 billion in FY24, according to the EPB data.
