Bangladesh’s apparel sector showed a strong performance in 2024, with export earnings reaching $38.48 billion, up 7.23% from $35.89 billion in 2023, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

Major markets, particularly within the European Union, recorded a growth of 8.93% to reach $19.371 billion from $17.783 billion, supported by strong demand. The US, UK and Canada saw healthy growth of 7.18% to 7.204 billion, 6.33% to 4.330 billion and 5.83% to $1.242 billion respectively, while non-traditional markets expanded by a modest 3.24% to $6.333 billion.

Within the EU, several countries stood out notably:

• The Netherlands topped the list with a growth of 25.30%, with a total revenue of $1.96 billion.
• Denmark grew by 23.40% to $1.09 billion while Poland by 12.43% to $1.65 billion.
• Exports to Germany and Spain were $4.83 billion and $3.42 billion, with growth rates of 5.97% and 2.51%, respectively.
• Italy showed a slight growth of 0.69%, totaling $1.52 billion.

Among the product sectors, knitwear exports grew by 7.40% and woven garments by 7.04%, showing balanced progress across the industry.

The latest data shows continued resilience and competitiveness in the global apparel market. Industry leaders view this performance as a sign of stability amid global economic uncertainties, though they caution that further strategic efforts will be necessary to maintain momentum in the face of emerging trade challenges.