Bangladesh’s garment export earnings grew 6.10% year-on-year in the first quarter of fiscal 2026-27, but the growth was largely driven by basic products such as trousers, sweaters and T-shirts, while exports of higher-value-added garments increased only marginally.

The country earned $10.58 billion from garment exports between July and September, up from $9.97 billion in the same period a year earlier, according to data compiled by Bangladesh Apparel Voice from Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) figures.

Exports of basic garments generated $8.26 billion during the quarter, up 7.45% year-on-year. The category added $573 million in export earnings, accounting for around 94% of the overall increase in garment exports.

Basic products’ share of total garment exports rose to 78.06% from 77.08% a year earlier, indicating greater reliance on conventional products despite overall export growth.

By product category, exports of bottomwear, including trousers, generated an additional $201 million, while sweaters and cardigans added $178 million. T-shirts and vests contributed another $104 million. Together, these three categories accounted for an additional $483 million in export earnings.

Children’s clothing recorded the highest growth rate, with exports rising 10.19% to $300 million during the quarter.

Exports of semi-basic products, including shirts and blouses, grew 1.77% to $842 million. Their share of total garment exports declined to 7.96% from 8.30% in the same period last fiscal year.

Meanwhile, exports of comparatively advanced and higher-value-added garments increased only 1.42% to $1.48 billion, up by around $21 million year-on-year. Outerwear exports rose by $33 million, while technical-wear exports increased by $18 million.

Several product categories recorded declines. Dress exports fell 10.66%, sportswear and activewear dropped 11.24%, and suits and ensembles declined 14.48%.

As a result, higher-value-added products’ share of total garment exports fell to 13.98% from 14.63% a year earlier.

The first-quarter figures highlight Bangladesh’s continued dependence on conventional garments to sustain export growth, while weaker performance in several advanced product categories underscores the need to diversify the export basket and expand production of higher-value-added apparel to strengthen the sector’s long-term competitiveness.