BD’s RMG exports to non-traditional markets hit record $642.9m

Bangladesh’s readymade garments (RMG) exports to non-traditional markets hit a record $642.93 million in August 2026.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh (EPB) data, it was the highest single month record ever recorded, following two years of stagnation in this segment.

The EPB data showed that the monthly average has also risen from $574.38 million in FY2025-26 to $611.60 million so far in FY2026-27.

Non-traditional markets’ share of total exports has grown accordingly, from 15.93% in FY2025-26 to 16.32% in the current fiscal year.

Apart from these, the overall growth in the August also increased.

As per the data of the EPB, Bangladesh’s July-August RMG exports to the USA together brought in $1,612.92 million in FY2026-27, against $1,447.60 million in the same two months last year — up 11.42%.

That two-month total is already 20.8% of last year’s full-year figure of $7,744.61 million.

If the current pace (11.42% YoY) held for all twelve months, FY2026-27 would total roughly $8,629 million, compared to FY2025-26's $7,744.61 million.

The monthly average so far in FY2026-27 stands at $806.46 million, versus $645.38 million as the flat monthly average implied by FY2025-26's full-year figure — running ahead of that benchmark, though driven almost entirely by August's 25.65% jump rather than July's -0.18%.

The country’s non-traditional markets for readymade garment (RMG) exports include all global destinations outside of the European Union, the United States, Canada, and the UK.

The major non-traditional countries where Bangladesh’s apparels exports are on rise are Japan, Australia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, South Korea, China, Russia, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa.

When Contacted, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) former Director and Founder & CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice, Mohiuddin Rubel told Asia Post, “Apparels exports to the non-traditional markets were good in the past several years. But in the last two years it was dropped.”

But, it was found that the RMG exports growth in the non-traditional markets have been raised again in the August, the business leader said.

He said, while the traditional markets’ exports constantly dropped, the sector leaders tried to do well in non-traditional markets with various strategies.

“I think those strategies are in work. Besides, export variety and continuous approaches also behind this growth,” he said.

Mohiuddin Rubel said, “Though it is a good news of achieving this growth, but we have to wait for the next months. If we found the growth is continues, then we can say it is finally a sustainable matter.”