The country’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports to the European Union (EU) grew 7.65 percent to €18.05 billion (around $20 billion) during the January-November period of last year, compared with the same period in 2024, according to Eurostat, the EU’s official statistical office.
The rise follows a 15 percent increase in shipments to the United States, Bangladesh’s single largest market, during January-October last year amid the reciprocal tariffs.
The new US duties reshaped the apparel trade in the South Asian region, prompting countries with higher US tariffs to divert a large portion of shipments to Europe, often at more competitive prices. This shift intensified competition in the European garment market.
Despite the year-on-year gain, exports to the EU fell 10.87 percent month-on-month to €1.37 billion in November 2025 compared with November 2024. Eurostat data showed that while unit prices for garments fell 3.25 percent, export volumes rose 11.26 percent. Over the 12 months from November 2024, unit prices dropped 12.27 percent.
Bangladesh, the second-largest garment exporter to the EU, is narrowing the gap with China, the world’s largest exporter.
China shipped €24.42 billion worth of garments to the EU in the January-November period last year, up 6.55 percent year-on-year.
In total, the 27 EU member states imported a total of €82.94 billion worth of garments in the first 11 months of 2025, a 3.93 percent increase from the previous year.
Among Bangladesh’s competitors, Turkey’s exports fell 11.31 percent to €7.65 billion, India’s rose 8.31 percent to €4.24 billion, Cambodia’s grew 15.21 percent to €4.14 billion, and Vietnam’s increased 10.10 percent to €4.01 billion.
Pakistan’s shipments rose 10.46 percent to €3.54 billion, Morocco’s fell 0.18 percent to €2.52 billion, Sri Lanka’s grew 6.43 percent to €1.25 billion, and Indonesia’s rose 3.30 percent to €0.90 billion, according to data.
Local exporters have urged the government to intensify negotiations with the EU to secure GSP Plus status. Bangladesh’s current Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) benefits under the Everything but Arms (EBA) initiative will expire in 2029.
The country is set to graduate from least developed country (LDC) status to a developing nation on November 24. The EU will maintain current GSP benefits for a transitional period of three years.
To qualify for GSP Plus, Bangladesh must comply with 32 international conventions covering human rights, labour standards, environmental protection, and good governance. GSP Plus would guarantee duty-free access to the EU market after graduation. Without it, Bangladesh could face tariffs of over 12 percent, potentially reducing competitiveness.
Studies suggest losing GSP Plus could cost Bangladesh roughly 14 percent of its exports in a year, equivalent to $8 billion. Currently, 73 percent of the country’s export earnings rely on GSP-related trade facilities, and Bangladesh alone enjoys 67 percent of the trade benefits available to all 44 LDCs.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/rmg-exports-eu-grew-7-jan-nov-4083726
