The government has set the export earnings target for the financial year 2025–26 at $55 billion from goods and $8.5 billion from the services sector.

Commerce adviser Sk Bashir Uddin announced the new targets on August 12 at a press conference at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

He said that for the goods sector, the target has been set at $55.0 billion, representing an estimated 13.40 per cent growth compared to the previous year.

The projection takes into account recent export performance, product diversification, and evolving global trade dynamics.

Within this figure, woven garments are expected to generate $20.79 billion with a 14.31 per cent growth rate, while knitwear is projected to bring in $23.7 billion, up 12.01 per cent.

Home textiles are targeted to reach $1.02 billion, reflecting a 17.03 per cent increase based on global market size and domestic production capacity.

The leather and leather goods sector has been set a target of $1.85 billion, with growth of 10.9 per cent.

Exports of frozen and live fish are projected at $539 million with 22.06 per cent growth, and stakeholders believe this could be exceeded if adequate policy and infrastructure support, such as vannamei shrimp hatchery licences and improved quarantine facilities, are provided.

Jute and jute goods are targeted at $900 million with a 9.73 per cent growth rate, alongside efforts to enhance quality testing and strengthen the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute.

Agricultural exports are expected to reach $1.21 billion, with 22.43 per cent growth, contingent on improvements in cargo aircraft facilities, airport cooling systems, and EDS machine installations to facilitate timely shipments.

The services sector target for FY2025–26 has been set at $8.5 billion, reflecting an 18.67 per cent growth projection.

The commerce ministry said the figure was determined after analysing past performance trends and the expanding potential of service-based industries.

In the recently concluded FY2024–25, Bangladesh earned $48.28 billion from goods exports against a $50 billion target, achieving around 97 per cent of the goal and recording an 8.58 per cent increase compared to FY2013–14.

The services sector generated $5.77 billion between July and April, against a $7.5 billion annual target, representing a 5.13 per cent year-on-year rise.

According to the .inistry, the targets for FY2025–26 were finalised after reviewing export growth patterns, sectoral strengths, market and product diversification, global trade trends, and the impact of geopolitical challenges such as the Middle East crisis and the war in Ukraine.

Stakeholder feedback and performance assessments from the previous financial year also played a key role in determining the new targets.