Bangladesh garment exports to the European Union, its largest regional market, fell by nearly 4% in the first seven months of the current financial year, as exporters faced stiffer competition and weaker global demand.
Exports to the EU’s 27 member states declined by 3.98% between July and January compared with the same period a year earlier, according to data from Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
Industry insiders say the slowdown is linked to China and India diverting more of their exports towards Europe after facing higher tariffs in the United States, leading to tougher price competition for Bangladeshi suppliers. At the same time, global demand for apparel has softened.
Exporters have also raised concerns about future challenges following a free trade agreement between India and the EU, which they fear could further weaken Bangladesh’s position in the European market.
Data from Eurostat, which tracks apparel imports into Europe, show that EU apparel imports rose by nearly 7% between January and November. Despite this overall growth, Bangladesh’s share declined during the period.
EPB figures show that Bangladesh exported garments worth $11.34 billion to the EU in the seven months to January, down from $11.81 billion in the same period of the previous financial year.
Shehab Udduza Chowdhury, vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told The Business Standard, “Global apparel consumption is slow. At the same time, due to higher tariffs in the US compared to Bangladesh, China and India have negotiated orders in Europe at lower prices. As a result, we have fallen slightly behind in competition.” “The nature of buyers is simple – they buy from wherever they get the lowest price. That is why we have lost some ground in that market,” he added.
Nearly half of Bangladesh’s total garment exports go to the EU’s 27 countries. Including the UK, the share rises to around 60%. After the United States, Germany is Bangladesh’s single largest garment export destination. EPB data show that exports to Germany fell by around 11% during the seven-month period. Exports also declined in other major European markets, including France, Denmark, Italy and Sweden.
However, exports increased in several other large markets such as Spain, the Netherlands and Poland over the same period. The EPB data also indicate that exports to the United States, Bangladesh’s largest single market, fell slightly in the seven months to January. Shipments to non-traditional markets declined by around 5%.
In contrast, garment exports to major markets such as Canada and the UK recorded growth during the period. Overall, Bangladesh’s total garment exports fell by 2.43% in the first seven months of the financial year compared with the same period a year earlier. Total exports during this time stood at $22.98 billion.
Shehab Udduza warned that Bangladesh could face tougher competition in Europe as India gains duty-free access. “India will be able to export with duty-free benefits because of the new FTA with Europe,” he said. “This will create additional challenges for Bangladesh in the coming days.”
