Bangladesh’s ready-made garment exports rose 6.10% year-on-year to $10.58 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2026-27, official data showed, as stronger sales to the United States and non-traditional markets offset softer growth in Europe.
Shipments in July-September compared with $9.97 billion a year earlier, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Knitwear exports climbed 6.88% to $5.96 billion, while woven garments grew 5.11% to $4.61 billion.
The United States, the largest single-country buyer, imported $2.22 billion of apparel, up 10.40%, lifting its share of total exports to 20.99% from 20.18%. Exports to Britain rose 5.94% to $1.29 billion, with knitwear up 10%, while Canada took $349.65 million, up 3.85%.
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The European Union remained the biggest destination bloc at $4.90 billion, but growth of 3.33% trailed the overall pace, and its share slipped to 46.36% from 47.60%. Germany, the largest EU buyer, was nearly flat, while Spain gained 13.73% and the Netherlands 9.02%.
Non-traditional markets grew 9.40% to $1.81 billion, or 17.13% of total exports. Shipments to Turkey more than doubled, rising 123.14% to $146.63 million, while Brazil climbed 41.58%, the United Arab Emirates 18.67% and Mexico 14.77%. Japan, the largest such market, grew 2.61% to $343.65 million.
Mohiuddin Rubel, a former BGMEA director and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice, said Bangladesh’s export growth was encouraging despite the energy crisis, rising production costs and wider global and domestic challenges. He said expansion in the United States and non-traditional markets exceeded the overall rate, a sign Bangladesh was gradually widening its reach beyond traditional destinations.
“Growth must be profitable and sustainable,” Rubel said, urging exporters to diversify beyond Europe and the United States and to focus on higher-quality products. He added that steady monthly gains could help the garment sector move closer to its overall annual growth target.