Bangladesh’s export earnings in September of the current fiscal year (2025-26) reached $3,627.58 million (approximately $3.63 billion), marking a 4.61% drop compared to the same period last year. This single-month decline saw exports fall by over $170 million, from more than $3.80 billion in the previous September to the current $3.63 billion.
The drop is largely attributed to a significant slump in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector, which accounts for the majority of the country’s exports.
Garment Exports Drive Negative Trend
According to a report published by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), RMG exports decreased by about 6%. This decline in apparel shipments is the primary factor pushing the overall export earnings into negative territory for the month. RMG exports fell to $2.84 billion from $3.01 billion in the corresponding month last year.
The EPB data further highlights the sector-specific poor performance in September:
Total Export Earnings (September): Down to $2.84 billion, a 5.66% decline year-on-year.
- Knitwear Sector: Exports fell to $1.63 billion, a 5.75% decrease.
- Woven Sector: Exports reached $1.21 billion, a 5.54% decrease.
Strong Q1 Keeps Overall Growth Positive
Despite the alarming performance in September, the country’s exports remain positive for the first quarter (Q1) of the fiscal year (July-September). The cumulative export earnings for this period are approximately 6% higher than in the same period of the previous fiscal year.
This overall positive Q1 trend is primarily due to the strong start to the fiscal year, which saw exports increase by about 25% in the first month (July), before falling by around 3% in the second month (August).
The EPB data for the July-September period (FY 2025-26) shows:
- Total Exports (Q1): Reached $9.97 billion, indicating a 4.79% growth.
- Knitwear Sector: Exported $5.58 billion, showing 4.31% growth.
- Woven Sector: Exported $4.39 billion, showing 5.41% growth.
While the year-to-date performance remains positive, the sharp drop in September’s export figures—particularly in the crucial RMG sector—raises concerns about the sustainability of export growth in the coming months.
