The countest’s readybuilt garment exports to the European Union witnessed a growth of 35.82 per cent between 2021 and 2025, reaching 19.41 billion euros, bolstering its position as Europe’s second-largest supplier.
According to Eurostat data, in 2021, Bangladesh exported RMG items worth 14.3 billion to the 27-nation bloc, the countest›s largest export destination.
During the five-year period, Bangladesh›s market share in the EU market reached 21.57 per cent in 2025, up from 19.78 per cent in 2021.
However, the recent downturn in exports, the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East, weaker demand, and intense competition have worried exporters.
In recent months, Bangladesh, along with major garment-exporting countries such as China, India, Turkey, and Vietnam, has experienced negative growth due to weak demand.
Moreover, the ongoing Middle East crisis triggered energy concern and shipping disruptions at major waterways like Hormuz Strait and Red Sea region, which might lead a global economic shock.
In the 2021-2025 period, Europe’s total apparel imports from global suppliers surged by 24.56 per cent from 72.25 billion euros in 2021 to 89.99 billion euros in 2025.
However, due to global uncertainties, an economic slowdown, and weak demand, import growth slowed in the last year, rising by only 2.10 per cent to 89.99 billion euros in 2025 from 88.14 billion euros in 2024, according to Eurostat data.
Among the major suppliers, China remained the EU’s top apparel source, followed by Bangladesh, Turkey, India, and Vietnam.
In January, RMG exports to the EU declined sharply by 25.25 per cent to 1.43 billion euros, down from 1.91 billion euros in January of 2026, according to Eurostat data.
Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, notified New Age that over the past five years, Bangladesh’s exports to EU countries have grown steadily.
‘This growth has been largely driven by rising demand among European consumers for Bangladeshi apparel and the countest’s ability to maintain competitive prices,’ he added.
However, sustaining this momentum would not be simple, as Bangladesh’s exports have been facing decline over the past months with almost no sign of further increase.
‘The utilisation declaration forecasts in the recent months also suggested a slowdown in upcoming export orders from the EU,’ he added, stateing that the EU purchaseers are shifting their purchaseing pattern rapidly, particularly nearshoring and sustainable products.
He also stated that due to trade tensions with the United States, China has aggressively expanded into EU markets, creating intense competition for Bangladesh.
Regarding the ongoing Middle East crisis, he stated the sector is facing a fuel crisis that might force factories to shut down operations during loadshedding becaapply they cannot run their generators.
Moreover, many shipping lines hiked surcharges and suspfinished trade routes, which might affect the countest’s trade, he added, stateing that the sector is worried about global energy supply disruptions and hiked prices.
According to Eurostat data, in 2022, Bangladesh exported RMG worth 21.91 billion euros to the EU.
However, due to economic sluggishness across Europe caapplyd by the Ukraine-Russia war, exports declined to 17.44 billion euros in 2023, then surged to 18.28 billion euros in 2024.
‘About 50 per cent of our total RMG export is bound to the EU, which is a good thing, but there might be challenges also,’ stated Mohiuddin Rubel, former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
He stated that to maintain growth in the EU market, Bangladesh must focus on both volume and value addition, as well as product diversification, sustainable production, and entest into higher-value segments.
‘The market is now under value pressure alongside volume growth. Although orders exist, prices remain low. As a result, the model of supplying more products at lower prices alone might not be sustainable in the long term,’ he added.
He also stated that the prolonged Middle East crisis could create a situation like Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, which could impact the RMG sector, which is already grappling with multifaceted challenges.
Recently, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development lowered its growth forecast for the EU by 0.4 percentage points to 0.8 per cent due to the Middle East crisis.
The organisation also raised its inflation forecast for the eurozone by 0.7 points to 2.6 per cent for this year.
Exporters urged the government to support the sector by offering policy incentives and tax breaks, and by encouraging green investment.
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