Bangladesh’s export sector demonstrated renewed momentum in January, with export earnings rising 11.22% month-on-month to US US $ 4.41 billion, according to the latest data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). The growth follows a sharp decline in December and suggests tentative stabilisation after several months of contraction.
Despite the improvement in January, overall export earnings for the first seven months of the 2025-26 fiscal year (July–January) remained slightly below the corresponding period of the previous year, at US $ 28.41 billion, reflecting a 1.93% year-on-year decrease.
The readymade garment (RMG) sector continued to dominate the export landscape, accounting for the bulk of earnings at US $ 22.98 billion. While RMG shipments recorded modest growth compared with the prior year, their performance was insufficient to offset weakness in other key markets.
Other export categories posted mixed results. Leather and leather goods, jute and jute products, home textiles, plastics, and light engineering goods registered gains on both year-on-year and month-on-month bases, while some sectors experienced slower momentum amid broader global economic uncertainties.
Exports to major markets remained varied. The United States retained its position as Bangladesh’s largest export destination, with shipments totalling US $ 5.22 billion over the July-January period. Exports to Germany, the United Kingdom and other European Union countries also showed positive trends, reinforcing Bangladesh’s reliance on diversified trade links.
While the month-on-month rebound in January suggests improving trade conditions, the ongoing year-on-year contraction highlights persistent headwinds facing the export sector, including global demand pressures and competitive challenges in key markets.
