Published: 10:40 AM, 02 July 2026
Bangladesh garment exports to EU plunge 19%
Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union (EU) suffered a severe setback during the first four months of 2026, recording the steepest decline among major global suppliers amid a broader contraction in the European market, according to the latest Eurostat data.
Bangladesh underperformed compared to its key competitors, facing a dual blow from declining export volumes and falling unit prices, said Mohiuddin Rubel, former Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Additional Managing Director of Denim Expert Ltd.
According to data presented in the EU Export Document, total EU apparel imports from around the world declined by 10.42 percent year-on-year during the January–April 2026 period, falling to €27.77 billion from €31.00 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. During the same period, Bangladesh's apparel exports to the EU dropped by 19.33 percent to €6.09 billion, down from €7.54 billion a year earlier.
Industry experts noted that, unlike other major competitors that managed to maintain either pricing or shipment volumes, Bangladesh experienced simultaneous declines in both.
Export volume fell by 9.91 percent to 435.97 million kg, while the average unit price declined by 10.45 percent to €13.96 per kg.
The April 2026 data presented an even more concerning picture. In the single month, Bangladesh's apparel exports to the EU declined by 19.53 percent year-on-year in value, accompanied by a 14.63 percent drop in shipment volume and a 5.74 percent decrease in average unit prices.
Mixed Fortunes for Global Competitors
Although the overall European apparel market weakened—with global import volumes declining by 5.48 percent and average unit prices falling by 5.22 percent—Bangladesh's key competitors adopted different strategies and recorded varying outcomes.
China, the largest apparel supplier to the EU, recorded the mildest decline in export value, down just 4.70 percent to €7.95 billion. It was also the only major exporter to increase shipment volumes, which rose by 3.25 percent to 408.91 million kg. This growth was driven by aggressive pricing, with average unit prices falling by 7.70 percent to €19.44 per kg.
Vietnam demonstrated remarkable resilience, with export value slipping by only 0.70 percent to €1.37 billion. Despite a 7.11 percent decline in shipment volume, the country strengthened its market position by increasing its average unit price by 6.90 percent to €29.43 per kg, reflecting a successful value-focused strategy.
Turkey recorded a 16.60 percent decline in export value to €2.42 billion, primarily due to lower shipment volumes, although its average unit price increased marginally by 1.49 percent. India posted a 12.10 percent decline in export value to €1.64 billion, affected by decreases in both shipment volume (-7.70 percent) and average unit price (-4.76 percent).
Pakistan experienced an unusual market dynamic. While its export volume increased by 5.86 percent to 108.53 million kg, export earnings fell sharply by 17.94 percent to €1.09 billion due to a massive 22.49 percent collapse in average unit prices—the steepest price decline among all major apparel-exporting countries monitored.
The Eurostat data highlighted Bangladesh's double-digit decline as a clear sign of vulnerability in the European market. While China pursued higher volumes through lower prices and Vietnam successfully prioritized value over volume, Bangladesh was caught in a downward spiral, with both export volumes and unit prices falling simultaneously.
Local industry insiders stressed that such a comparable dual erosion in both price and volume was not observed among any other major garment-exporting nation. They warned that the trend underscores the urgent need for Bangladeshi exporters to reassess pricing strategies, enhance competitiveness, and diversify into higher-value apparel products.
