Dhaka:Bangladesh has identified new opportunities to increase its readymade garment (RMG) exports to Japan, as the East Asian country's share in Bangladesh's total apparel exports reached a four-year high of 3.25 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (FY2026-27).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh exported apparel worth US$343.65 million to Japan during July-September of FY2026-27, as per data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). This marks a significant contribution to Bangladesh's total RMG exports, which stood at US$10.58 billion during the same period.
Bangladesh Apparel Voice (BAV) Founder and CEO Mahiuuddin Rubel emphasized the potential for further growth in exports to Japan. He noted, "Japan is a large import market, and the recent increase in its share of Bangladesh's apparel exports makes the potential more evident. Tapping this opportunity could help diversify Bangladesh's export markets and reduce dependence on traditional destinations."
Historical data shows fluctuations in Bangladesh's apparel exports to Japan, with exports reaching US$1.15 billion in FY2022-23 before a decline of 5.8 percent to US$1.09 billion in FY2023-24. The exports then rebounded by 9.1 percent to US$1.19 billion in FY2024-25 but fell again by 4.3 percent to US$1.13 billion in FY2025-26.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's overall RMG exports saw a decline in the last fiscal year, dropping by 1.6 percent year-on-year to US$38.70 billion in FY2025-26, according to EPB data. Despite this, Japan's share in Bangladesh's total apparel exports increased to 3.25 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, indicating renewed opportunities for growth in the Japanese market.
Japan's demand for apparel underscores the market's potential. The International Trade Centre (ITC) reported that Japan imported apparel worth US$24.96 billion between July 2022 and June 2023. Imports declined by 7.3 percent to US$23.14 billion over the following year but rose by 3.3 percent to US$23.90 billion in FY2024-25, with a further increase of 1.2 percent to US$24.19 billion in FY2025-26.
In the current calendar year, Japan imported apparel worth US$4.05 billion during July-August, suggesting significant potential for Bangladesh to enhance its export earnings and market diversification. The rise in Japan's share of Bangladesh's RMG exports in the first quarter of FY2026-27 further emphasizes the potential to strengthen Bangladesh's presence in this key market.