Apparel worth $19.89 billion was exported in the first six months of the current fiscal year 2024-25, i.e., July-December. This export is 13.28 percent more than the same period of the previous fiscal year. In the first half of the previous fiscal year, ready-made garments worth $17.56 billion were exported.
In addition to the United States, exports to the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, Canada, and emerging markets increased. Exports to markets other than the United Kingdom and emerging markets increased by more than 10 percent.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) statistics, BGMEA said that half of the ready-made garments exported were destined for the EU. Ready-made garments worth $9.87 billion were exported to this large market. This export is 15.22 percent more than the previous fiscal year.
According to BGMEA data, apparel exports worth $2.47 billion were exported to Germany. This is 14 percent more than the previous fiscal year. In addition, apparel exports worth $1.7 billion were exported to Spain, $1.09 billion to France, $1.06 billion to the Netherlands, $0.79 billion to Poland, $0.77 billion to Italy, and $0.56 billion to Denmark. Among these countries, apparel exports to Poland increased by the highest 28 percent and the lowest in Spain, close to 3 percent.
Apparel exports to US, the largest market for Bangladeshi apparel as a single country were $3.84 billion. This export is 17.55 percent more than the same period last fiscal year. Among the traditional markets, apparel worth $2.16 billion were exported to the UK in the first half of the current fiscal year. This export is 6.70 percent more than the same period of the previous fiscal year. Another traditional market, Canada, apparel worth $640 million were exported which is 14 percent higher than the same period of previous fiscal year.
Bangladesh is also doing well in new markets. In the first half of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh exported apparel worth $3.37 billion to this market which was $3.13 billion in the same period last year. Accordingly, exports to new markets increased by 7.5 percent until last December.
Japan was the largest export market among new markets during this period. Apparel worth $600 million were exported which is 5.70 percent more than the same period last year. In addition, apparel worth $430 million were exported to Australia, $370 million to India, $230 million to Korea and $220 million to Turkey.
Of this, exports to Australia increased by 7.5 percent, India by 18 percent, Korea by 2.84 percent and Turkey by 43 percent.
