Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the non-traditional markets in the July-January period of the financial year 2024-25 stood $3.97 billion marking a 6.42 per cent increase from $3.72 billion in the same period of the previous year, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.

Exports to these markets accounted for 16.84 per cent of Bangladesh’s total readymade garment (RMG) exports during the period.

According to the EPB data, Bangladesh exported apparel items worth $23.55 billion to their global export destinations in the July-January FY25. The earnings from woven was $10.86 billion, and knitwear was $12.68 billion.

In terms of apparel exports, countries like the US, Canada, the UK and EU are considered traditional markets, while other countries are considered non-traditional markets.

Japan, Australia, Russia, India, China, South Korea, UAE, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, and others are major non-traditional export destinations.

Of the $3.97 billion in export earnings, $1.99 billion came from knitwear items, while woven garments accounted for $1.97 billion.

Among non-traditional markets, Japan was the leading destination for Bangladeshi RMG products, with exports totalling $721.50 million in the July-January period of FY25.

This was followed by Australia, India, and South Korea, where exports amounted to $512.88 million, $427.62 million, and $271.48 million, respectively.

During the same period, export earnings from other key non-traditional markets stood at $263.08 million from Turkiye, $208.03 million from Mexico, $144.32 million from the United Arab Emirates, and $130.91 million from China.

However, exports declined in several markets, including Russia, South Korea, China, the UAE, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand.

The European Union remained the largest destination for Bangladesh’s apparel exports, with shipments totalling $11.81 billion in July-January of FY25, accounting for 50.15 per cent of total RMG exports.

The United States, the largest single-country market, imported $4.47 billion worth of Bangladeshi apparel, representing 18.99 per cent of total exports.

Additionally, Bangladesh exported RMG products worth $2.55 billion to the United Kingdom, making up 10.83 per cent of total export earnings from the sector, while shipments to Canada stood at $751 million, contributing 3.19 per cent of the total apparel export revenue.

Faruque Hassan, former president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that exports to the nontraditional market have witnessed a boost since 2009; however, for several years, they stood around 16-18 per cent.

‘We need to figure out the demands, trends and upcoming events at the nontraditional markets and focus on our production as per this. Like, Saudi Arabia will host FIFA World Cup 2034 and is spending much on domestic sports. We need to focus on Saudi to grab the market,’ he said.

He also urged the embassies in the respected countries to be proactive and urged the manufacturers to attend events and penetrate them.

In FY24, Bangladesh earned $6.09 billion from the nontraditional markets.