Dhaka:Bangladesh's merchandise export earnings saw a six percent increase, reaching US$17.04 billion in the July-October period of 2026, compared to $16.08 billion in the same period the previous year.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Bangladesh Bank's product-wise export statistics revealed an additional $960 million was earned during this four-month period, with the readymade garment (RMG) sector contributing significantly to the growth. Knitwear exports rose by seven percent to $7.71 billion, while woven garment exports increased by 4.8 percent to $6 billion, with these two categories generating $13.71 billion and accounting for approximately 80.4 percent of the total merchandise export earnings.
Beyond the RMG sector, several non-traditional export items also showed substantial growth. Jute and jute goods exports rose by 23.8 percent to $383 million, while leather and leather products saw a 12.7 percent increase to $464 million. Chemical products posted a 27.3 percent growth to $157 million, with home textiles and footwear exports rising by 7.4 percent and 9.7 percent to $263 million and $194 million, respectively.
Among other products, exports of wigs and human hair experienced an 86.4 percent surge to $94 million, while ores, slag, and ash increased by 63.7 percent to $26 million, and carpet exports grew by 37 percent to $17 million.
However, the period also saw declines in some major export categories. Agricultural product exports fell by 13.5 percent to $325 million, and exports of frozen and live fish decreased by 10.9 percent to $152 million. Additionally, exports of cotton and cotton products, including yarn, waste, and fabrics, dropped by 10.2 percent to $170 million, while paper and paper products recorded an 18.2 percent decline to $75 million.
The overall export performance reflects continued growth in the garment sector alongside expansion in several non-RMG industries, although the declines in some product categories indicate the need to address sector-specific challenges.