Bangladesh cemented its position as the European Union鈥檚 second-largest apparel supplier in the first half of 2025 with exports up 17.9 per cent to 10.29 billion euros, but its growth was eclipsed by China鈥檚 22.3 per cent rise and Cambodia鈥檚 30.4 per cent surge, signalling severer competition in the EU market.
According to Eurostat data released on Monday, EU apparel imports from Bangladesh rose to 10.29 billion euros in January鈥揓une 2025, up from 鈧�8.73 billion in the same period of 2024.
Knitwear was the main driver, rising by 21.1 per cent to 6.03 billion euros, while woven garments increased by 13.6 per cent to 4.26 billion euros.
Exporters said the higher growth showed that EU demand for garments was rising and the market there was improving, but they were concerned about growing competition among major producers following the US鈥檚 new tariffs on many Asian garment-producing countries.
They said the high US tariffs, especially on India and China, had pushed these countries to focus more on the EU to make up for losses in the US market.
The year started strongly, with exports in January 2025 reaching聽 1.91 billion euros, a 61 per cent rise from 1.19 billion euros in January 2024.
February followed with 1.66 billion euros, 28 per cent higher than a year earlier, and in March exports rose further to 2.11 billion euros, an 18 percent increase.
In April 2025, Bangladesh鈥檚 apparel exports to the EU stood at 1.86 billion euros, just six per cent higher than April 2024.
In May, exports fell to 1.42 billion euros, 11 per cent lower than the 1.59 billion euros of the previous year, marking the first monthly drop in the year.
June saw a small recovery, with exports rising to 1.33 billion euros, 19 per cent higher year-on-year, although still slightly below May on a monthly basis.聽
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association former president Fazlul Hoque said the overall growth showed the market was improving, as almost all major producing countries had double-digit growth.
He said that Bangladesh could do better if there was no internal problems, such as factory closures and banking difficulties, which had slowed further growth.
Fazlu, also managing director of Plummy Fashions Ltd, said that because of trade tensions between China and the US, China was losing US market share.
He warned that China was increasing its focus on the EU and would continue to do so, and that India would likely follow, making competition in the market very strong.
When compared with other leading suppliers, Bangladesh鈥檚 growth in the first six months of 2025was higher than the EU鈥檚 overall apparel import expansion of 12.3 per cent.
Data showed that the EU apparel imports increased to 43.39 billion euros in the first half of 2025, up from 38.64 billion euros in the same period of 2024.
Knitwear led the gains with a 14.7 per cent rise to 21.87 billion euros, while woven apparel grew 10 per cent to 21.51 billion euros.
Other competitors also showed solid improvements but did not match Bangladesh鈥檚 overall momentum.
China reinforced its dominance as the EU鈥檚 largest supplier, with exports rising 22.3 per cent from 9.20 billion euros in H1 2024 to 11.26 billion euros in H1 2025.
Cambodia led growth among major exporters, with EU apparel imports rising 30.4 per cent from 1.59 billion euros in H1 2024 to 2.07 billion euros in H1 2025.
India increased its apparel exports to the EU by 15.4 per cent to 2.70 billion euros in January-June of 2025.
Pakistan grew by 16.6 per cent to 1.86 billion euros, recording balanced gains across knit and woven segments.
Vietnam maintained strong double-digit expansion, up 17.3 per cent to 2.02 billion euros, broadly in line with Bangladesh鈥檚 percentage increase.
Turkey, traditionally an important supplier due to its geographical proximity, was the only major exporter to see a decline in the EU market.
EU apparel imports in the first half of 2025 from Turkey fell by 7 per cent to 4.27 billion euros, with both knit and woven categories in contraction.