Bangladesh garment exports rise 8.6% in September as quarter's shipments reach $10.57bn

Bangladesh's ready-made garment exports rose 8.56% year on year to $3.08 billion in September 2026, up from $2.83 billion a year earlier, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) figures reported by The Daily Star and The Business Standard on 1–2 October.

Total merchandise exports reached $3.93 billion in September, an increase of 8.54% on September 2025, though down 11.11% from August's $4.42 billion. The Business Standard said it was the second consecutive month of year-on-year export growth.

For the first quarter of the 2026–27 fiscal year (July–September), total exports grew 6.34% to $13.09 billion, while garment exports rose 6.10% to $10.57 billion from $9.97 billion. According to The Daily Star, knitwear exports grew 6.88% and woven garments 5.11% over the quarter, and home textiles were up 11.94%. In September alone, home-textile exports rose 13.52%, The Business Standard reported.

Industry leaders cautioned that the recovery is driven by prices. Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), told The Daily Star that garment exports increased in value but not in volume, and that higher yarn prices had pushed up unit prices.

What it means for Egyptian exporters

Bangladesh is the largest competitor for Egyptian factories in basic knitwear and woven garments for European and US buyers, so its return to growth means price competition in those categories is not easing. The fact that Bangladesh's gains are coming mainly from higher unit prices linked to yarn costs, rather than more pieces shipped, leaves room for Egyptian suppliers to compete on speed, proximity to Europe and duty-free access, particularly for shorter-lead-time orders. Egyptian home-textile exporters should also note the double-digit growth in Bangladesh's home-textile shipments.