Bangladesh’s RMG Exports To EU Surge By 61% In Jan
Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) exports to the European Union (EU) recorded a strong 61% growth in January 2025, outpacing major competitors such as China, Vietnam, Turkey, and India.
According to Eurostat data released on March 18, Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the EU reached €1.91 billion in January 2025, up from €1.18 billion in January 2024.
The knitwear subsector led the growth, with exports rising by 64.2% to €1.14 billion in January. Woven garment exports also posted a significant increase of 56.3%, reaching €765.96 million. In terms of volume, garment shipments to the EU grew by over 58% to 126.86 million kilograms from 80.25 million kilograms in January 2024.
Exporters attributed the growth to increased global demand, a shift in orders from China, and Bangladesh’s duty-free market access to the EU. Competitive pricing, improved capacity, higher productivity, and enhanced workplace safety have also strengthened Bangladesh’s position.
Bangladesh Outperforms Competitors
The EU’s total apparel imports in January 2025 stood at €8.28 billion, up 32% from €6.28 billion in January 2024. Bangladesh outperformed its main competitors:
– China’s apparel exports to the EU grew by 40.81% to €2.37 billion.
– India recorded a 44.44% increase, earning €397.70 million.
– Vietnam posted a 34.27% rise, reaching €398.56 million.
– Pakistan and Cambodia saw increases of 32% and 72.43%, earning €347.71 million and €420.86 million, respectively.
– Turkey recorded slower growth of 5.41%, with exports totaling €874.09 million.
Bangladesh’s RMG exports to the United States, its largest single market, also showed robust growth. Exports to the US reached US$ 799.65 million in January 2025, up 45.9% from US$ 547.95 million in January 2024, according to OTEXA data.
Despite the positive trend, exporters warned that Bangladesh’s competitive edge is being eroded by high utility costs, gas supply shortages, banking issues, and labor unrest. They stressed the need for stable energy supply and supportive policies to sustain the current growth momentum.
