Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports to the European Union (EU) posted a steep decline in January 2026, reflecting a broader contraction in apparel demand across the bloc, according to the latest data from Eurostat.
The EU’s total apparel imports fell by 15.48 percent year-on-year to €7.03 billion in January, driven by an 8.36 percent drop in import volume and a 7.76 percent fall in average unit prices compared to the same month last year.
Against this backdrop, Bangladesh exported garments worth €1.43 billion to the EU during the month, registering a sharp 25.25 percent decline in value.
The fall was attributed to a 17.49 percent reduction in shipment volume and a 9.41 percent decrease in unit prices, indicating both weaker demand and pricing pressure in the market.
Industry insiders say the downturn highlights the vulnerability of Bangladesh’s export-oriented apparel sector to demand shocks in its largest market, as the EU typically accounts for more than half of the country’s total RMG exports.
Other major suppliers to the EU also experienced negative growth, though the scale varied. China, the largest exporter, saw its shipments decline by 6.9 percent to €2.22 billion despite a modest 1.21 percent increase in volume, as unit prices dropped by over 8 percent.
Turkey recorded one of the sharpest contractions, with exports plunging 29.12 percent to €619.98 million. India, Pakistan, Vietnam and Cambodia likewise reported declines in export earnings from the EU market.
Despite the weak start to the year in Europe, Bangladesh’s overall RMG export performance remains closely tied to developments in other key destinations, particularly the United States and emerging markets.
Exporters note that any sustained recovery will depend on improving consumer demand in Western economies, stabilization of inflation, and easing price pressures in global supply chains.
Sector leaders have urged diversification of export markets and product categories to cushion against such external shocks, while also emphasizing the need to enhance competitiveness through efficiency and value addition in the long term.