In a strong testament to export resilience, Bangladesh reported total merchandise shipments worth $48.28 billion for the fiscal year 2024–25, marking an 8.58% year-on-year rise over the previous year’s $44.47 billion.

July 2025 exports hit a record monthly high of $4.77 billion, soaring almost 25% compared to July 2024’s $3.82 billion.The 

The ready‑made garment (RMG) sector led the surge with 24.67% growth, contributing $3.96 billion in July alone. 

Other standout sectors: Rubber exports surged about 92.7%, though from a smaller base. Leather and leather goods grew nearly 30%, earning over $127 million. Frozen and live fish, agricultural products, engineering goods, plastics, home textiles, and handicrafts posted double-digit gains; jute goods saw modest growth (about 5%).

RMG exports: $39.35 billion — up 8.84% from $36.15 billion year-on-year. Plastic products led all sectors with 16.21% growth. Leather goods up 10.19%, textiles up 2.42%, agricultural exports up about 2.52%. In contrast, wood products plunged 30%, jute goods dropped 4.10%.

Low-base effect: July 2024 suffered disruptions from political unrest, with many factories closed for days, leading to suppressed export volumes. This paved the way for a high year-on-year comparison in 2025. 

Front‑loading by U.S. buyers: Uncertainty around proposed higher U.S. tariffs spurred many importers to accelerate shipments into July.

Experts foresee potential export slowdown in August–September, traditionally lean months, although a rebound is expected from October onward.

U.S. tariff policy developments remain highly impactful. Exporters’ cautious optimism follows a confirmed 20% tariff on Bangladeshi garments—still competitive versus initial higher proposals.

A $850 million World Bank-backed infrastructure deal will help modernize Chattogram port facilities—boosting trade capacity and reducing logistics bottlenecks.

Bangladesh delivered solid export growth in FY25 and began FY26 with July’s record-breaking performance. RMG continues to anchor the momentum, while emerging sectors like rubber and leather are gaining traction. While a slow-down in the late summer months is expected, renewed global demand and improved port infrastructure support a cautiously optimistic outlook for the coming quarters.

Information sourced from: bdnews24.com, Business Standard, The Daily Star, BSS, Prothom Alo, Wikipedia,  unb.com.bd