Bangladesh’s textile sector is entering a new era of record-breaking export performance. Despite political and global trade headwinds, the country has posted strong growth in ready-made garment (RMG) shipments, reinforcing its status as a global export powerhouse.
📈 Export Milestones & Growth
- FY 2024–25 (July 2024–June 2025): Bangladesh’s garment exports reached US $39.35 billion, an 8.84% year‑on‑year increase. Knitwear exports grew by 9.73% to US $21.16 billion, while woven garments rose 7.82% to US $18.19 billion The Daily StarTextile Focus.
- By December 2024, total textile and apparel exports stood at US $50 billion, marking an 8.3% year‑on‑year rise Wikipediadenimfocus.net.
- H1 FY 24‑25 (July–Dec 2024): RMG exports surged 13.28% YoY totaling US $19.89 billion, with the EU accounting for about 50% of total shipments fashionatingworld.com.
🌍 Export Momentum in Key Markets
- United States: In January 2025, apparel exports to the U.S. skyrocketed 45.9% YoY to US $799.65 million, outperforming competitors like Indonesia and India tbsnews.netThe Daily Star.
- European Union: In Jan-Feb 2025, Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the EU jumped 37% to US $3.69 billion, the fastest growth among major apparel exporting countries apparelviews.com+1Textile Focus+1.
⚖️ Overcoming Challenges
The textile sector navigated several significant disruptions during FY 2025:
- A nationwide strike by National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials in May–June 2025 temporarily halted customs operations, impacting export processing at Chattogram Port reuters.com+3linkedin.com+3denimfocus.net+3Wikipedia+1The Daily Star+1.
- Eid-ul-Azha holidays in June led to factory closures, causing a month‑on‑year export drop of 7.6% in June 2025 The Daily StarTextile Focus.
- Effective U.S. tariffs on Bangladeshi garment imports—set at 37%—pose threats to future export gains and competitiveness, especially if not addressed via trade negotiations linkedin.com+2reuters.com+2denimfocus.net+2.
🚀 Why Bangladesh Continues to Lead
Bangladesh’s export resilience stems from strategic strengths:
- A vast industrial base with 4,500+ garment factories, allowing mass‑scale production of mid-range apparel with low unit cost linkedin.comdenimfocus.net+1linkedin.com+1.
- Competitive labor pricing unmatched by many rivals, combined with vast backward-linked fabric and accessory networks Wikipedialinkedin.com.
- A shift in sourcing from China and Mexico due to tariff pressures, fueling increased garment orders from U.S. and EU buyers to Bangladeshi suppliers reddit.com.
🧾 Key Figures at a Glance
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Annual RMG exports FY 2024‑25 | US $39.35 billion (↑ 8.84%) |
| Knitwear exports | US $21.16 billion (↑ 9.73%) |
| Exports to U.S. (Jan 2025) | US $799.65 million (↑ 45.9%) |
| Exports to EU (Jan–Feb 2025) | US $3.69 billion (↑ 37%) |
| Textile export total by Dec 2024 | US $50 billion (↑ 8.3% YoY) |
🎯 Outlook & Strategic Focus
Bangladesh has set ambitious targets for FY 26: aiming for US $44.49 billion from RMG exports—an expected rise of 13.1% YoY voguebusiness.com+7fibre2fashion.com+7Textile Focus+7Textile FocusWikipedia+1linkedin.com+1.
To sustain momentum, the industry must focus on:
- Diplomatic and trade negotiations to mitigate punitive tariffs.
- Energy, logistics, and customs reforms to minimize domestic disruptions.
- Market diversification and product innovation, particularly in footwear, jute, and home textiles.
✅ Bottom Line
Despite geopolitical tensions, trade barriers, and domestic bottlenecks, Bangladesh’s textile industry continues to break records. Export growth in key markets like the U.S. and EU highlights its resilience and adaptability. With strong production capacity, disciplined workforce, and rising global buyer confidence rooted in sustainability and cost-efficiency, Bangladesh is on course for even greater heights in the coming years.
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