Bangladesh Exports Rise 10% in July-May, Garments Lead Growth

Bangladesh's export sector experienced significant growth in the first 11 months of the 2024-25 fiscal year, with export earnings rising 10 percent to $44.95 billion compared to the previous year. The May 2025 export figures showed an 11.45 percent increase year-on-year, reaching $4.74 billion, driven primarily by the readymade garment (RMG) sector, which grew by approximately 10.20 percent overall and 11.85 percent in May alone. Other sectors such as leather goods, engineering products, home textiles, and agriculture also posted positive growth, while jute and jute goods faced a decline. This export growth is contributing to Bangladesh's gradual recovery from economic stress, despite a slowdown in agriculture and services sectors that led to the lowest economic growth since the pandemic. Meanwhile, Thailand's export sector continued its strong performance, posting a 10.2 percent increase in April 2025 and benefiting from robust demand in the U.S. and other key markets, supported by proactive trade policies and ongoing free trade agreement negotiations. Both countries demonstrate the critical role of exports in driving economic growth amid global trade uncertainties.