RMG exports to non-traditional markets dip nearly 5%

Garment exports to non-traditional markets decreased by 4.99 percent year-on-year to $3.77 billion in the July–January period of the current fiscal year due to weaker demand for apparel items, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

The non-traditional market share accounted for 16.40 percent of total garment exports during this period.

Bangladesh classifies all countries as non-traditional or emerging markets except the EU, the USA, the UK, and Canada.

The European Union (EU) remained Bangladesh’s largest export destination for RMG, representing 49.35 percent of total exports. Earnings from the EU stood at $11.34 billion, registering a year-on-year decline of 3.98 percent in July–January, EPB data showed.

The United States retained its position as the second-largest market after the EU as a trade bloc. RMG exports to the USA amounted to $4.47 billion, or 19.46 percent of total exports, marking a slight year-on-year decrease of 0.03 percent.

Exports to Canada and the United Kingdom showed positive momentum. Earnings from Canada reached $784.17 million (3.41 percent of the total), reflecting 4.42 percent year-on-year growth. In the United Kingdom, garment exports totaled $2.62 billion (11.38 percent of the total), posting 2.55 percent year-on-year growth, according to EPB data.

In July–January of FY 2025–26, overall RMG exports stood at $22.98 billion, reflecting a 2.43 percent decline compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.