Bangladesh’s garment exports to the United Kingdom rebounded in August after a soft July, pushing combined shipments for the first two months of fiscal year 2026-27 to $915.63 million, up 3.74% from $882.62 million a year earlier, according to Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh (EPB) data.
The July-August total already represents 20.86% of last year’s full-year UK exports of $4,388.55 million, a strong opening for a market that ranks among the top destinations for Bangladeshi apparel, the world’s second-largest garment exporter after China.
The monthly average for the two months stood at $457.82 million, running well ahead of the $365.71 million flat monthly average implied by FY2025-26’s full-year figure. That momentum, however, was driven almost entirely by August, which posted a 10.53% year-on-year jump, while July shipments contracted 2.44%, EPB figures showed.
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The uneven monthly performance highlights continued volatility in Western demand even as headline growth remains positive, according to Mohiuddin Rubel, founder and chief executive of Bangladesh Apparel Voice, an industry data and advocacy platform that tracks the sector’s trade performance.
Bangladesh’s apparel industry, which accounts for more than 80% of the country’s export earnings, has been navigating fluctuating orders from major Western buyers amid inflationary pressure on consumer spending, alongside rising compliance and sustainability requirements from European and UK retailers.
Industry stakeholders will be watching whether August’s rebound extends into the coming months or proves a temporary correction after July’s decline, as manufacturers weigh the UK’s performance against trends in the European Union and United States, Bangladesh’s two other largest apparel export markets.
Retailers in Britain have increasingly favored Bangladeshi suppliers for value-driven basics and fast-turnaround orders, even as sterling’s fluctuations and freight costs continue to weigh on order values, according to industry estimates. Exporters said sustained UK demand through the remainder of 2026 will be critical in offsetting softer growth in some other Western markets.