Mohiuddin Rubel, additional managing director of Denim Expert Ltd, said Bangladesh’s RMG exports to the EU grew last year both in value and volume (10.20 per cent) while unit prices fell by 3.84 per cent.
Other countries, such as China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Cambodia, also showed positive growth throughout the year, he added, though their value increased significantly.
‘This trend highlighted China’s strategic focus on the European market amidst challenges in the US market,’ he noted.
In 2025, key rivals such as China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Pakistan recorded positive growth, although most were in negative territory in a single month, December.
China, the largest supplier to the EU, recorded a narrow increase of 1.17 per cent to 26.58 billion euros, up from 26.27 billion in 2024.
Following Bangladesh, Turkiye emerged as the third-largest exporter to the EU, exporting 8.34 billion euros in 2025, a sharp 10.73 per cent lower than the 9.34 billion euros exported in 2024, according to Eurostat data.
RMG exports from India experienced a positive growth of 7.99 per cent to 4.52 billion euros in 2025, which was 4.19 billion euros in 2024, positioning it as the fourth largest apparel exporter.
Cambodia, the fifth largest RMG exporter to the EU, bagged 4.49 billion euros in 2025, 14.66 per cent higher than 3.91 billion euros in 2024, said the Eurostat data.
RMG exports from Vietnam and Pakistan to the EU also grew by over 9.6 per cent to 4.38 billion euros and 3.86 billion euros in 2025, respectively.
Meanwhile, according to the EPB data, Bangladesh’s RMG exports to the EU further increased n the first seven months (July-January) of the current financial year 2025–26 amid persistent domestic and global challenges.
In the mentioned period of FY26, Bangladeshi exporters recorded a 3.98 per cent decline in shipments to the EU, the largest destination for Bangladesh’s RMG exports, to $11.34 billion, down from $11.81 billion in the same period of FY25.
Moreover, exports to major EU countries such as Germany, France, Denmark, and Italy declined in the first seven months of FY26, although narrow to moderate growth was recorded in Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland.
Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said RMG exports have remained in negative territory mainly due to weak global demand.
Moreover, the new US tariff regime has caused significant upheaval in global export markets and has affected Bangladesh’s exports to the US and Europe.
Weak global demand, intense competition in EU markets, and domestic political tensions forced buyers to place fewer orders, which affected overall exports, he added.
RMG exporters said that key rivals such as China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Pakistan have increasingly focused on the bloc, a trend intensified by the United States’ new tariff regime, which has prompted exporters to diversify into Europe.
Exporters urged the government to provide policy support and the manufacturers to improve productivity, competitiveness, efficiency, innovation, and market and product diversification to remain competitive.
https://www.newagebd.net/post/apparel/291386/rmg-exports-to-eu-reach-19b-euros-in-2025-eurostat