Published : 04 Aug 2026, 08:46 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:30 AM
Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) exports totalled $3.89 billion in July 2026, according to the latest export earnings data.
The figure was 1.92 percent decrease year-on-year. In July 2025, garment exports reached $3.96 billion, marking 24.67 percent year-on-year growth, the highest monthly export growth on record.
Overall export earnings also declined year-on-year in July 2026.
Garment industry representatives said the apparent decline in July 2026 was largely due to an “unusually high” export base in July 2025.
The United States, Bangladesh's largest single export market for apparel, accounts for more than 17.5 percent of the country's garment exports, worth around $8 billion annually.
After beginning his second term, US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on more than 60 countries in April 2025. Bangladesh initially faced a proposed tariff of 35 percent, which was later reduced to 25.62 percent.
As the tariffs were scheduled to take effect in August 2025, overseas buyers accelerated and increased orders to ensure shipments arrived before the deadline.
The surge in orders during May and June 2025 resulted in nearly 25 percent growth in both garment exports and overall exports in July that year.
Referring to that context, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said in a statement that July 2025 should be viewed as an exceptional month rather than a normal benchmark.
"Garment exports in July 2025 were significantly above normal levels. Under the current circumstances, achieving growth against that unusually high base is extremely challenging. Therefore, the current export earnings of $3.89 billion should not be interpreted negatively when compared with that exceptional performance," the association said.
BGMEA said the industry continues to face multiple challenges, including a severe gas shortage and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
"Despite these adverse conditions, achieving $3.89 billion in exports in a single month represents a positive start," it said.
As the industry body responsible for issuing Utilisation Declarations (UDs) for duty-free imports of raw materials used by export-oriented garment manufacturers, BGMEA said UD data also provides an indication of future export trends.
According to the association, the volume of UDs issued in July 2026 fell by about 2.8 percent compared with July 2025, suggesting that the current slowdown in exports may persist.
"If structural constraints, particularly energy security issues, are addressed and the industry receives the necessary policy support, we are confident export growth will return in the coming months," BGMEA said.
Separately, Bangladesh's total exports stood at $4.73 billion in July 2026, down 1 percent from a year earlier.
According to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the country earned $4.77 billion from exports in July 2025.
