Bangladesh’s exports fell 2.19 per cent year on year to $23.99 billion in the July–December period of FY26, down from $24.53 billion a year earlier, as declines in readymade garments and textiles outweighed gains in engineering, leather, chemicals and fast-growing agricultural items.
According to Export Promotion Bureau, engineering products recorded the strongest growth, rising 26.17 per cent to $315.52 million in the first half of the fiscal year, supported by higher shipments of electric products, bicycles and copper wire.
Leather and leather products increased 5.61 per cent to $609.68 million, with growth in leather goods and footwear offsetting a modest decline in raw leather exports.
Chemical products, including pharmaceuticals, grew 4.16 per cent to $199.19 million, with pharmaceutical exports alone accounting for $118.81 million during the period.
Agricultural exports delivered mixed results, reflecting sharp contrasts within the sector.
Exports of fruits surged 115.70 per cent to $62.64 million, while vegetables rose 52.33 per cent to $45.09 million. Other agro items such as crabs, oil seeds, betel leaves and spices also recorded gains, though from smaller bases.
Despite these increases, overall agricultural exports fell 10.30 per cent to $534.16 million, as exports of animal or vegetable fats and oils plunged 66.79 per cent to $31.94 million, while tobacco declined to $142.26 million, dry food to $95.84 million, sugar and sugar confectionery to $8.53 million, and tea to $1.88 million, all posting double-digit year-on-year declines.
The weakness in agriculture pulled primary commodity exports down 5.90 per cent to $800.31 million in the July–December period.
Readymade garments remained the single largest drag, slipping 2.63 per cent to $19.37 billion, reflecting the sector’s dominant share in the export basket.
Within apparel, knitwear exports declined 3.22 per cent to $10.49 billion, while woven garments fell 1.91 per cent to $8.88 billion, confirming a broad-based slowdown across clothing categories.
The weakness extended along the textile value chain, with cotton and cotton products dropping 16.03 per cent to $267.92 million and specialised textiles falling 8.18 per cent to $179.26 million, led by declines in terry towels, special woven fabrics and knitted fabrics.
Outside garments, plastic products declined 8.83 per cent to $143.99 million, while paper and paper products fell 8.58 per cent to $136.56 million.
Exports of non-leather footwear dropped 3.84 per cent to $263.37 million, and headgear and caps declined 5.06 per cent to $180.61 million, adding to pressure from non-garment manufactured goods.
Jute and jute goods edged up 0.31 per cent to $418.69 million, supported by growth in jute yarn and twine and jute sacks and bags, although a sharp fall in raw jute exports limited the sector’s overall contribution.
The half-year data show that while engineering, leather, chemicals and select agro items posted notable gains, their combined earnings were insufficient to offset the weight of garments, textiles and weak agricultural categories, keeping overall exports in negative territory during the July–December period.
