Bangladesh's apparel exports to the European Union (EU) have seen a mixed bag in 2024. While August saw a 3.1 per cent increase, driven by knitwear and woven garment exports, the overall trend for the first eight months remains negative.

Knitwear exports from Bangladesh rose by 1.4 per cent in August, totaling €1 billion. Woven garment exports experienced a stronger growth of 6.2 per cent, reaching €602 million.

However, Bangladesh's total apparel exports to the EU for the first eight months of 2024 dropped by 3.51 per cent to €11.90 billion. Knitwear exports in this period fell by 6.51 per cent, while woven garment exports saw a slight increase of 1.05 per cent.

The EU's total apparel imports between January and August 2024 also decreased by 3.62 per cent. Despite these challenges, Bangladesh remains optimistic about future growth, citing improving EU economic conditions and government efforts to boost exports.

While Bangladesh's exports have fluctuated, China, the largest apparel exporter to the EU, has seen a steady increase. Turkey, the third-largest exporter, experienced a decline.

The overall trend in the EU apparel market has been a decline in imports, reflecting reduced apparel consumption. This has affected exports from various suppliers, including Bangladesh.

Moving forward, Bangladesh will need to navigate the challenges of fluctuating demand, competition from other suppliers, and the ongoing impact of global economic factors.