Bangladesh's total export earnings fell to $31.91 billion during the first eight months of the 2025–26 fiscal year (July–February), marking a 3.15% year-on-year decline. In the same period last year, earnings stood at $32.94 billion.
Data recently released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) indicates that the contraction is primarily driven by a significant slowdown in February and weakened performance in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector.
February Slump Heightens Concerns
The economic outlook darkened in February as export earnings plummeted to $3.50 billion. This represents a sharp 20.81% drop compared to January and a 12.03% decrease compared to February of the previous year.
While January had shown some signs of growth, the February figures reflect a clear impact of weakening global demand and reduced shipments.
RMG Sector Under Pressure
The Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector, which accounts for over 80% of Bangladesh’s total export revenue, saw its earnings slide by 3.73% year-on-year during the July–February period, totaling $25.80 billion.
According to the EPB
Month-on-month: RMG exports in February fell by 22.1% compared to January.
Year-on-year: February’s RMG earnings dropped by 13.21% compared to the same month last year.
