Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union countries witnessed a 13.13 per cent year-on-year growth in the January–August 2025 period, reaching €13.48 billion, according to the Eurostat, released recently.
The export earnings were €11.92 billion in the same period of 2024.
Despite the robust performance in cumulative export earnings, Bangladesh’s monthly exports to the EU in August 2025 dropped by 8.04 per cent to €1.49 billion, compared with €1.62 billion in August 2024.
Bangladesh remained the second-largest apparel exporter to the EU after China, consolidating its position with double-digit growth in 2025.
The country’s 13.13 per cent rise outpaced the EU’s overall import growth of 9.29 per cent, reflecting Bangladesh’s competitiveness in terms of price, compliance, and sustainability credentials.
The European Union’s total apparel imports reached €59.89 billion in the first eight months of 2025, marking a 9.29 per cent year-on-year increase from €54.81 billion in the same period of 2024.
However, imports in August 2025 declined by 6.48 per cent to €7.95 billion, reflecting temporary demand weakness and retail adjustments across major EU economies.
Among the major exporters, China, while maintaining its dominance, recorded 17.19 per cent growth during the first eight months of 2025, with export earnings rising to €16.91 billion.
However, its exports dropped slightly by 5.21 per cent in August 2025 to €2,837.20 million, down from €2,993.13 million a year earlier.
Turkey experienced one of the sharpest declines among major suppliers in the EU market.
The country’s apparel exports to the EU fell to €676.41 million in August 2025, a drop of 21.6 per cent from €862.75 million in the same month of 2024.
Over the eight-month period, exports totalled €5.72 billion, down 9.51 per cent from the previous year.
India recorded mixed results, with exports of €324.62 million in August 2025, representing a 6.12 per cent decline from a year earlier. However, its cumulative exports to the EU rose by 11.88 per cent to €3.45 billion in the first eight months of 2025.
Cambodia emerged as the strongest performer, registering the highest growth rate among major EU apparel suppliers.
The country’s apparel exports to the EU rose by 5.79 per cent in August 2025 to €435.08 million, while cumulative exports for the January–August period surged by 25.9 per cent to €2.92 billion.
Vietnam also showed solid performance in the EU market, with apparel exports rising by 6.53 per cent in August 2025 to €412.15 million and cumulative exports up by 15.81 per cent to €2.84 billion.
The country’s growth is driven by its expanding synthetic apparel and sportswear industries and its preferential access under the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
Pakistan recorded steady growth in the EU market during the January–August 2025 period, with apparel exports rising by 12.54 per cent to €2.53 billion, up from €2.25 billion a year earlier.
However, monthly exports in August 2025 edged down slightly by 0.69 per cent to €320.29 million.
Indonesia registered modest gains in the EU market, with exports up by 2.95 per cent in August 2025 to €87.45 million, and cumulative exports in the first eight months of 2025 rising by 8.01 per cent to €678.20 million.