Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports reached US$7.50 billion during July-August of fiscal year 2026-27, registering a 5.12 percent year-on-year increase from US$7.13 billion in the corresponding period of FY2025-26, according to the latest data from the Export Promotion Bureau.
The growth was supported by a strong rebound in apparel shipments in August, when Bangladesh’s RMG exports increased 13.92 percent year-on-year to US$3.61 billion, compared with approximately US$3.17 billion in August 2025.
Both major segments of the apparel industry recorded double-digit growth during the month.
Knitwear exports increased 14.88 percent year-on-year to US$2.03 billion, while woven garment exports rose 12.70 percent to US$1.57 billion.
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The August performance marked a significant improvement from the previous year, when RMG exports declined 4.75 percent year-on-year to US$3.17 billion. In August 2025, knitwear exports stood at around US$1.77 billion, while woven garment exports were approximately US$1.40 billion, according to EPB data.
The latest figures also come after a relatively weaker start to FY2026-27. In July, Bangladesh’s RMG exports declined by around 1.92 percent year-on-year to approximately US$3.88-3.89 billion, compared with US$3.96 billion in July 2025. Knitwear exports fell 0.90 percent, while woven garment exports declined 3.16 percent during the month.
The August rebound has therefore helped lift the sector’s cumulative performance for the first two months of the new fiscal year into positive territory.
The recovery comes amid a challenging operating environment for Bangladesh’s apparel manufacturers. The industry continues to face pressure from gas shortages, energy supply disruptions, high production costs, global demand uncertainty and geopolitical risks affecting international supply chains. Industry representatives have also expressed concerns about production capacity and delivery schedules amid the ongoing energy constraints.
Despite these challenges, Bangladesh continues to maintain its position as one of the world’s leading apparel-exporting countries. The RMG sector generated US$38.70 billion in export earnings in FY2025-26, with major markets such as the United States, European Union, United Kingdom and Canada remaining important destinations.
The latest numbers indicate that Bangladesh’s apparel industry has started FY2026-27 with moderate cumulative growth and a strong August rebound. However, sustaining this momentum will depend on global apparel demand as well as improvements in domestic energy supply, production conditions and overall business competitiveness.
Source: Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh