Dhaka:Bangladesh's merchandise exports increased by 6.34 percent in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2026-27, amounting to US$13,094.13 million, up from US$12,313.17 million in the same period of the previous fiscal year. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) reported that September 2026 export earnings saw an 8.54 percent year-on-year rise, reaching US$3,937.23 million compared to US$3,627.58 million in September 2025. The ready-made garment (RMG) sector maintained its stronghold on the country's export earnings, showing a 6.10 percent growth during the first quarter to US$10,578.56 million from US$9,970.42 million in the previous year. In September, RMG exports grew by 8.56 percent to US$3,082.95 million from US$2,839.75 million in the previous year. Within this sector, knitwear exports rose by 6.88 percent to US$5,963.76 million, while woven garment exports increased by 5.11 percent to US$4,614.80 million. Non-RMG sectors also saw positive growth. Leather and le ather products exports increased by 14.74 percent, jute and jute goods surged by 31.55 percent, light engineering exports grew by 16.51 percent, and home textiles recorded an 11.94 percent growth. Pharmaceutical exports saw a significant rise of 40.39 percent during the first quarter, with September exports alone increasing by 64.33 percent year-on-year. However, exports of agricultural products and frozen and live fish experienced negative growth. The United States continued to be Bangladesh's largest export destination, with a rise of 11.34 percent to US$2,591.64 million during July-September, up from US$2,327.77 million in the same period the previous year. The United Kingdom was the second-largest market with exports worth US$1,370.02 million, followed by Germany at US$1,218.99 million. Among emerging markets, exports to Türkiye more than doubled, with a 100.11 percent increase to US$210.54 million from US$105.21 million in the previous fiscal year. India and Japan remained significant export destination s, ranking sixth and ninth, respectively. The EPB noted that the export performance underscores the resilience of Bangladesh's export sector, emphasizing the need for export diversification, market expansion, product upgrading, and trade facilitation to sustain growth.
