Following a year of sluggish export growth and a negative start to FY27 (-0.9% in July), Bangladesh’s export earnings rebounded sharply in August 2026.
Official figures from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) show monthly export revenue surged 13.14% year-on-year to reach $4.43 billion, bringing cumulative July–August earnings up by 5.43%.
However, the dramatic single-month jump has drawn sharp skepticism from manufacturers and economists alike.
With severe natural gas and electricity shortages crippling production across major manufacturing belts—forcing factories to idle capacity and lay off workers—industry insiders question whether the reported statistical spike reflects ground-level operational realities.
Monthly shipments grew by 13.14% to $4.43 billion in August 2026 (up from $3.92 billion in August 2025).
Readymade garments (RMG) led the recovery, expanding 13.92% to $3.60 billion in August, bringing combined July–August apparel earnings to $7.50 billion (+5.12%).
Shipments to key export destinations expanded significantly, led by a 26% leap in US exports ($948 million) and strong gains across Europe and Canada.
Factory owners cite chronic load-shedding and gas pressure drops (0 to 2.5 PSI) that disrupted production and delayed shipments throughout August, raising doubts about the accuracy of the 13.14% growth figure.
August 2026 Export Growth by Key Market
United States ──────────────────────────────────────────► $948m (▲ +26.00%)
Germany ──────────────────────────► $495m (▲ +5.32%)
United Kingdom───────────────────────► $478m (▲ +11.79%)
Spain ─────────────────────► $422m (▲ +21.41%)
Netherlands ──────────────► $262m (▲ +15.00%)
Canada ────────► $146m (▲ +17.61%)
Export Destination | August 2025 Revenue | August 2026 Revenue | Year-on-Year Growth (%) | Market Drivers |
United States | $752m | $948m | +26.00% | Strong seasonal buyer confidence and high-value apparel demand |
Germany | $470m | $495m | +5.32% | Steady baseline shipments despite regional economic headwinds |
United Kingdom | $428m | $478m | +11.79% | Robust autumn garment orders across major retail chains |
Spain | $348m | $422m | +21.41% | Expanded fast-fashion sourcing and order placements |
Netherlands | $228m | $262m | +15.00% | Increased logistics routing and retail inventory replenishment |
Canada | $124m | $146m | +17.61% | High growth in duty-free apparel items and winter outerwear |
Sectoral export performance (July–August FY27)
Product Category | FY26 Baseline | FY27 (July–Aug) | Growth Rate (%) | Sector Status & Commentary |
Ready-Made Garments (RMG) | $7.13bn | $7.50bn | +5.12% | Primary Driver: Accounted for the bulk of national export gains |
Jute & Jute Goods | $119m | $163m | +37.09% | Strong Rebound: Global demand shift toward eco-friendly packaging |
Engineering Products | $105m | $130m | +23.88% | High Growth: Strong expansion in light engineering and electrical parts |
Leather & Leather Goods | $229m | $258m | +12.58% | Steady Recovery: Increased finished leather exports and footwear orders |
Home Textiles | $139m | $155m | +11.17% | Moderate Gain: Gradual recovery in bedroom and bath linen shipments |
Agricultural Products | $175m | $159m | -9.10% | Contraction: Supply chain delays and higher domestic transport overheads |
Expert analysis
"We are hesitant to celebrate these figures right away because factory operations were disrupted all month due to gas and power deficits," noted a leader of a major knitwear association.
"In many cases, goods could not even be shipped on schedule. How exports grew by over 13% during an operational crisis is a question that requires deep data verification."
Given that export growth had been trending downward throughout the previous fiscal year and contracted in July, a sudden 13.14% jump in August demands detailed scrutiny, cautioned independent economists.
"We need comprehensive micro-data to determine whether this reflects an actual rise in volume, higher unit prices, or delayed shipment processing from previous months."
To ensure reported export gains translate into real economic resilience, industry stakeholders recommend three immediate policy measures:
- Guarantee uninterrupted gas pressure (10 to 15 PSI) for industrial hubs in Gazipur, Savar, and Narayanganj to honor international buyer deadlines.
- Establish automated cross-verification between EPB shipment declarations, Bangladesh Bank foreign exchange receipts, and NBR customs manifests to ensure reporting accuracy.
- Provide tax incentives and logistics support to rapidly scaling non-apparel sectors like jute (+37.09%) and engineering products (+23.88%).