Bangladesh’s export earnings in major markets, including the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom, registered positive growth in the first quarter (July-September) of the current financial year 2024-25, while earnings from Spain and Italy recorded negative growth.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh’s export earnings from the US increased by 11.73 per cent in July-September of FY25, reaching $2.05 billion, up from $1.84 billion in the same period of FY24.

Readymade garments contributed $1.81 billion, or 88 per cent, of Bangladesh’s total export earnings from the US, the country’s largest market, out of the $2.05 billion in exports.

Exporters expressed confusion regarding the EPB data related to the US market, as information from the US trade department showed a decline in apparel imports from Bangladesh up to August 2024.

EPB data showed that export earnings in the first quarter of FY 25 from Germany, the second largest market for Bangladesh, grew by 1.96 per cent to $1.22 billion from $1.2 billion in the same period of the previous financial year.

Earnings from apparel amounted to $1.14 billion, or 93.57 per cent, of Bangladesh’s total export earnings from Germany, out of $1.22 billion in exports during the period.

The country’s export earnings from the UK, the third largest destination for Bangladesh, increased by 1.89 per cent to $1.18 billion in July-September period of FY25 from $1.16 billion in the same period of FY24.

In the UK market, out of $1.18 billion in export earnings during the period, readymade garments accounted for 94.71 per cent, or $1.12 billion.

Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association former president Fazlul Hoque On Wednesday told New Age that the Bangladesh apparel sector experienced a decrease in the number of orders from July to September due to political instability and labour unrest in the factories.

He mentioned that the impact of the decreased orders might be reflected in the export data for November and December.

‘It is a positive development that the political situation has begun to improve, and a peaceful environment has returned to the factories. If this trend continues, Bangladesh can expect to receive an increased number of global orders in the coming months,’ Fazlu said.

The government data showed that Bangladesh’s export earnings from Spain saw a sharp decline of 11 per cent in the first quarter of FY25, dropping to $869.36 million from $976.79 million in the same period of FY24.

Out of $869.36 million, the contribution from RMG was 97.22 per cent or $845.21 million.

The country’s export earnings from Netherlands in July-September of FY25 grew by 21.94 per cent to $560.30 million from $459.50 million in the same period of FY24.

Out of $560.30 million export earnings from the Netherlands, the share of apparel was 88.53 per cent or $496.04 million.

Bangladesh’s export earnings from France rose by 7.75 per cent in the first quarter of FY25, reaching $543.69 million, up from $504.59 million in the same period of FY24.

Of the $543.69 million in export earnings, apparel accounted for $475.29 million during the period.

Bangladesh’s export earnings from Italy fell by 4.43 per cent to $346.11 million in the first quarter of FY25, whereas earnings from Canada rose by 9.46 per cent to $324.31 million during the same period, EPB data showed.