Bangladesh’s export performance in February saw a slide from January, but there was a steady growth of 2.77% compared to February of the previous year.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the export earnings in February 2025 reached $3.97 billion, reflecting a 2.77% growth compared to the same month last year.
Meanwhile, total exports for the July-February period of FY25 stood at $32.94 billion, marking a 10.53% increase from $29.81 billion recorded during the same period in the previous fiscal year.
As in previous months, the apparel sector remained the dominant contributor, with exports amounting to $3.24 billion, posting a modest 1.66% growth compared to February 2024.
Several non-traditional sectors registered notable growth in February 2025, including leather and leather goods 34.37%, frozen and live fish 26.66%, plastic products 7.97%, and agricultural products 7.03%.
But some sectors experienced a decline in export earnings during the same period.
These include jute and jute goods at negative 11.39%, light engineering products negative 1.56%, and home textiles at negative 0.23%
Despite challenges in certain sectors, the overall positive growth trajectory underscores Bangladesh’s resilience and competitiveness in the global export market, said Md Anwar Hossain, vice-chairman of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB.)
The export target for FY25 has been set at $50 billion, representing a projected growth of 12.44% over the previous fiscal year.
This ambitious goal reflects the nation’s commitment to expanding its global trade footprint and strengthening its position in the international marketplace as stated by the EPB in an official remark on exports.
Breakdown
RMG items, as usual, overwhelmingly dominated the export earnings by recording a 10.64% growth in the July-February period.
The sector fetched $26.79 billion against $24.21 billion during the corresponding period.
Knitwear sub-sector bagged $$14.34 billion in an 11.01% growth while woven garments saw a 10.22% increase to $12.45 billion in the last July-February period.
In February 2025, RMG exports stood at $3.24 billion, marking a growth of 1.66% from the earnings in January 2024.
However, woven exports saw a slight dip in February 2025, decreasing by 0.44% compared to February 2024, according to EPB data.
Meanwhile, home textiles recorded a 5.23% growth to fetch $577.99 million during the first eight months of the current fiscal, according to the EPB data.
Exports of jute and jute goods during the period under review amounted to $547.88 million, registering a fall of 8.71%.
Earnings from agricultural items like vegetables, fruits and dry foods registered a growth of 10.25% to $742.47 million during the last eight months.
Export earnings from engineering products increased by 7.48% to $338.79 million.
Frozen and live fish exports increased by 14.45% to $316.18 million.
The country received $757.50 million from the export of leather and leather goods in July-February, registering a growth of 8.48%.
Pharmaceuticals fetched $145.46 million, registering a 7.11% export growth.
Exports of footwear other than leather items also increased, by 32.85% to $362.83 million.
The exports of plastic products posted a 22.25% growth, reaching $203.65 million.
Bangladesh in the last fiscal year bagged $44.46 billion in earnings from merchandise exports, again riding on readymade garments as potential of other sectors stayed stymied.
