B Mirror Report : In the first six months (July–December) of the current 2025–26 fiscal year, Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports to various countries declined by 2.63 percent. During this period, total garment exports amounted to USD 19.3654 billion, compared to USD 19.8877 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

According to updated data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) on Sunday (January 4), this information has been revealed.

EPB data shows that in the first six months of the current fiscal year, net knitwear exports reached USD 10.4881 billion, down 3.22 percent compared to the same period last year. In the first six months of the 2024–25 fiscal year, knitwear exports were USD 10.8374 billion.

Additionally, woven garment exports in July–December of the current fiscal year were USD 8.8774 billion, compared to USD 9.0503 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year. This means woven garment exports fell by 1.91 percent over the six-month period.

Meanwhile, in December alone, Bangladesh exported garments worth USD 3.2341 billion. This is 14.23 percent lower than December of the previous year, when exports totaled USD 3.7705 billion. In December 2025, knitwear exports were USD 1.6318 billion, and woven garment exports were USD 1.6024 billion. In December of the previous year, knitwear exports were USD 1.8918 billion, and woven garment exports were USD 1.8787 billion.

Industry insiders say that the decline in garment exports is due to the global recession, high inflation, lack of a political government in the country, and U.S. tariff impositions. During the global downturn, people’s purchasing power is decreasing, and buyers have reduced their orders. Moreover, due to U.S. tariff policies, traders from India and China are focusing on the European market, taking garment orders at lower prices. As a result, Bangladesh’s exports to the European market have decreased. Besides, international buyers are hesitant to place new orders due to overall domestic uncertainties, leading to a general decline in garment exports.

Although exports fell in the first six months of the fiscal year, on a calendar year basis, garment exports in 2025 increased slightly. Primarily, growth in the first half of the year helped achieve a small rise for the entire year. In 2025, Bangladesh’s ready-made garment exports to various countries totaled USD 38.8247 billion, compared to USD 38.4821 billion in 2024. This means garment exports in 2025 increased by USD 0.3426 billion or 0.89 percent.