Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union (EU) outpaced those of China, in the first nine months of 2025, reflecting the bloc’s growing demand for affordable Bangladeshi clothing. According to Eurostat data, Bangladesh’s clothing exports rose from US $ 15.6 billion to US $ 17.7 billion between January and September, a year-on-year increase of 13.17%.
China remained the EU’s largest clothing supplier in value, with exports climbing 9.86% to US $ 22.9 billion. While China led in absolute exports, Bangladesh’s competitiveness shone through in other metrics. On volume, China grew by 17% in the same period, whereas Bangladesh posted a 15.55% increase.
Crucially, Bangladesh’s unit prices remained more attractive than China’s. Eurostat data shows that China’s average unit price fell by 6.10%, while Bangladesh’s declined by just 2.06% — a sign that Bangladesh is boosting its EU market share through competitive pricing.
Other countries also recorded strong growth. India supplied US $ 4.4 billion worth of clothing to the EU, up 10.62% in value and 16.01% in volume, even as average prices dropped 4.65%. Pakistan’s exports rose 13.77% to US $ 3.4 billion with a 15.90% volume jump and 1.83% decline in unit prices. Cambodia saw exceptional growth — its clothing exports to the EU hit US $ 3.9 billion, a 22.51% rise in value and 39.65% increase in volume, although unit prices fell by 12.27%. Turkey, by contrast, saw a decline: its clothing exports to the EU dropped 9.80% to US $ 7.5 billion.
Overall, from January to September, the EU imported US $ 79.5 billion, up 7.14% in value. This was driven by a 13.80% increase in volume, even as average prices fell by 5.86% per kilogramme — indicating a tight competition but strong demand.
Inamul Haq Khan, Senior Vice-President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said the export surge was consistent with large work orders placed by European buyers ahead of the Christmas season. However, he cautioned that growth may moderate in the coming months, pointing to protectionist pressures on global supply chains. He noted that reciprocal tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump had added stress to the sector.
Bangladesh’s cost competitiveness continues to be its biggest strength, enabling it to remain the EU’s second-largest clothing supplier by value. In key categories such as denim and trousers, the country has already outpaced China, and in terms of volume, it remains a dominant player in the European market.
