Bangladesh’s non-cotton garment exports on the rise

The share of non-cotton garments in Bangladesh’s total garment exports rose to 30.7 percent in the January-September period of 2026, thanks to rising demand from international clothing retailers and brands, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.

Total garment exports from Bangladesh stood at $29.91 billion in the nine months to September this year.

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Cotton garments accounted for $20.75 billion, or 69.3 percent, while non-cotton garment exports amounted to $9.17 billion, or 30.7 percent, according to the data.

The share of non-cotton garments rose throughout the year. The monthly average was 28 percent in January and February, surpassed 30 percent for the first time in June, reaching 31.6 percent, and peaked at 34.6 percent in August before falling to 32.6 percent in September.

Non-cotton exports reached their highest monthly value in July, at $1.31 billion, according to the data.

However, cotton is still the backbone of the sector. Monthly cotton exports ranged between $1.97 billion and $2.6 billion during the nine-month period.