Garment exports reach $10.58bn in first quarter, 94% of growth from basic clothing

Bangladesh's ready-made garment exports totalled $10.58 billion in the first quarter (July-September) of fiscal 2026-27. Exports in the same period last fiscal year were $9.97 billion; growth was therefore 6.10 percent, or $608 million more.

Mohiuddin Rubel, founder and chief executive of Bangladesh Apparel Voice (BAV), presented this picture by analysing Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data. His compiled figures show that most of the growth came from clothing already at the top of the conventional export list.

According to the analysis, $573 million of the additional exports came from basic clothing, about 94 percent of total growth. Basic garment exports rose 7.45 percent in the period to $8.26 billion.

The share of basic products in total garment exports also rose. It was 77.08 percent in the first quarter last year and has now increased to 78.06 percent.

Among basic garments, trousers or pants, sweaters and cardigans, and T-shirts and vests contributed most to growth. Exports from these three products rose by $201 million, $178 million and $104 million respectively; together they account for about 80 percent of total growth.

Children's clothing recorded the highest export growth rate, 10.19 percent. But exports in this category amount to only $300 million.

Semi-basic garment exports rose slightly. This category, which includes shirts and blouses, grew 1.77 percent to $842 million, while its share of total exports fell from 8.30 percent to 7.96 percent.

The picture for high-value clothing is weaker. Exports of advanced-category products rose only 1.42 percent, reaching $1.48 billion, just $21 million more than the previous year. The category's share of total exports fell from 14.63 percent to 13.98 percent.

Within the advanced category, outerwear (coats, jackets, blazers and overcoats) exports rose by only $33 million and technical clothing by $18 million.

By contrast, exports of several advanced products fell. Gown-type clothing exports declined 10.66 percent, sportswear and activewear 11.24 percent, and suits and ensembles 14.48 percent.

So although export earnings rose, there has been little progress in product diversification or in raising the share of high-value clothing, the BAV analysis shows.