Bangladesh’s export earnings declined significantly in May, largely due to a sharp slowdown in the country’s key export sector—ready-made garments (RMG).
According to the latest report published by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) on Wednesday, total export earnings in May stood at $4.40 billion, marking a decline of more than 7 percent compared to $4.74 billion recorded in the same month last year.
The RMG sector, which accounts for the lion’s share of Bangladesh’s exports, also experienced a notable drop. In May, garment exports amounted to $3.59 billion, down from $3.92 billion in May of the previous year.
Overall export performance for the current fiscal year has also shown a downward trend. During the July–May period of the 2025–26 fiscal year, total export earnings fell by 2.55 percent to $43.80 billion, compared to $44.95 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
Similarly, export earnings from the RMG sector during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year stood at $35.31 billion, reflecting a 3.41 percent decline from $36.56 billion recorded during the same period in the 2024–25 fiscal year.
It is noteworthy that after experiencing a continuous decline for eight months, export earnings showed signs of recovery in April. However, the drop in May indicates that the positive momentum could not be sustained.
Analysts say the downturn in the garment sector, coupled with global economic challenges, has weighed heavily on the country’s overall export performance.
