Bangladesh has experienced a remarkable surge in apparel exports to the European Union (EU) during the first three months of this year. According to the latest data from Eurostat, the country’s earnings from clothing shipments to the EU rose by 29.06 per cent, reaching US $ 5.98 billion between January and March, up from US $ 4.63 billion in the same period last year.
Eurostat reports that overall apparel imports into the EU increased by 16.84 per cent in the same period, totaling approximately US $ 24.65 billion. The volume of imported garments also grew by 20.25 per cent, signaling a robust recovery in purchase orders across the sector. However, the average unit price declined by 2.84 per cent, reflecting increased market competition and pricing pressures.
Despite the slight dip in unit prices, Bangladesh’s export volume expanded by 24.64 per cent, with a 3.55 per cent rise in unit value, leading to significant growth in total revenue. Industry analysts attribute this positive trend to Bangladesh’s competitive pricing, skilled labor force, and sustainable manufacturing practices. They emphasise that continued policy support and investment in export-oriented infrastructure are vital to sustain this momentum.
Meanwhile, other major garment-exporting countries also showed notable growth in EU markets. China’s exports increased by 24.94 per cent to US $ 6.67 billion, India by 24.08 per cent to US $ 1.44 billion, Pakistan by 28.73 per cent to US $ 1.08 billion, and Cambodia by 33.45 per cent to US $ 1.16 billion. Conversely, Turkey experienced a decline, with exports dropping by 4.14 per cent to US $ 2.37 billion.
The data underscores the competitive landscape of the global apparel market and highlights Bangladesh’s strengthening position as a key supplier to Europe.
