Bangladesh's merchandise export earnings reached US$31.91 billion during the July-February period of the 2025-26 fiscal year, signaling the sector's inherent stability despite a cooling global trade climate.
According to a press release of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the country notched this total against the $32.92 billion recorded during the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Despite this slight contraction, the overall performance reflects a resilient trade environment capable of navigating both domestic and international complexities.
The Ready-made Garments (RMG) sector, the bedrock of the nation's export economy, fetched $25,796 million during the first eight months of the current fiscal year.
While this figure marks a 3.73 percent decrease compared to the corresponding period last year, the sector's internal performance hierarchy remained robust.
Notably, knitwear continued to outpace woven garments, maintaining its dominant lead and serving as a critical anchor for the industry amid shifting global fashion demands.
In an encouraging development for economic policy, several non-traditional sectors registered positive year-on-year growth, serving as a critical indicator of the ongoing diversification of the national export basket. The
momentum in these emerging sectors suggests a broadening of the country's industrial base.
Key growth drivers during this period include Leather and leather goods; Jute and jute goods; Home textiles; Light engineering and Frozen fish.
In terms of destinations, the United States remained the largest export market, with exports totaling $5,874.13 million and registering a modest growth of 0.74 percent.
Notably, China recorded the highest growth among major destinations, with a year-on-year increase of 19.12 percent.
The slight decline in overall exports can be attributed to temporary factors such as port disruptions, the national election, and subdued global demand in key markets.