Exports outside garments grow 12 to 27 percent in five sectors, total reaches $17.09bn in four months

Export growth in five emerging sectors outside readymade garments has outpaced overall export growth in the first four months of the current fiscal year, according to the latest data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

According to the EPB, Bangladesh's total export earnings in July-October of fiscal 2026-27 rose 5.88 percent from the same period a year earlier to 17.09 billion US dollars.

In the same period, five sectors — chemicals, jute and jute goods, specialised textiles, leather and leather goods, and engineering products — grew by between 12.44 percent and 27 percent.

Chemicals led the five sectors. Earnings from the sector reached 157.15 million dollars in the four months, 27 percent more than in the same period a year earlier.

Pharmaceuticals played a major role in that chemical growth. Drug exports earned 101.73 million dollars in the four months, up 36.44 percent from a year earlier. Industry figures said ensuring international standards and compliance, entering new markets and growing acceptance of Bangladeshi medicines abroad had accelerated the growth.

EPB Vice Chairman and Chief Executive (Additional Secretary) Mohammad Hasan Arif told the state news agency BSS that the progress in chemicals, especially pharmaceuticals, reflected a growing capacity to produce high value-added goods, and that the sector was becoming a promising driver of export diversification.

Earnings from jute and jute goods stood at 346.37 million dollars, up 24.88 percent from a year earlier. Rising global demand for environmentally friendly and biodegradable products as alternatives to plastic has created new market opportunities for the sector, the data noted.

Bangladesh Jute Goods Exporters Association (BJGEA) Vice Chairman Dr Mohammad Kamruzzaman said exports needed to expand into new markets including African countries while strengthening positions in existing markets. Praising the government decision to stop raw jute exports, he said it would secure raw material for local industry, and that focusing on high-value jute products would raise employment and export earnings.

Earnings from specialised textiles stood at 142.22 million dollars, up 16.52 percent from a year earlier. The sector covers fabrics used in industry, technology-based textiles and special materials used in healthcare. Hasan Arif said greater use of technology, production capacity and high value addition could let the sector play an important role in diversification.

Earnings from leather and leather goods reached 465.05 million dollars in the four months, up 12.47 percent from a year earlier. Initiatives to ensure international standards and compliance, a focus on high-value products and rising foreign buyer demand were cited for the increase. Hasan Arif said attention to quality, compliance and new product innovation would strengthen Bangladesh's position in the high-value market.

Earnings from engineering products reached 247.23 million dollars, up 12.44 percent from a year earlier. The sector includes bicycles, machinery parts, various industrial materials and light engineering products. Hasan Arif said more investment in technology, innovation and skills could make the sector one of the most important sources of export earnings in the medium and long term.

EPB data showed growth in each of the five sectors was higher than overall growth — nearly five times higher in chemicals and more than four times higher in jute and jute goods. Although more than 80 percent of total export earnings still comes from readymade garments, progress in the other sectors is creating scope to broaden the sources of earnings. Hasan Arif said policy support, exploration of new markets, attracting investment and developing technology were essential to sustain the trend, and that there was no alternative to a diversified industrial base for sustainable long-term growth.