Staff Correspondent:

Bangladesh’s overall exports grew by 9.83 percent in the first 10 months (July-April) of the 2024-25 fiscal year, driven by rising global demand for Bangladeshi products.

However, April alone recorded the lowest export earnings in the past 10 months, industry sources said.

According to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), total exports during July-April stood at US$40.20 billion, compared to $36.61 billion in the same period of FY 2023-24.

Despite the overall positive trend, April 2025 exports totaled only $3.01 billion—a modest 0.86% increase from April 2024’s $2.99 billion—making it the lowest monthly total in the fiscal year so far.

Industry insiders attributed the drop in April exports to several factors, including labour unrest, gas and energy shortages, and the long Eid-ul-Fitr vacation, all of which disrupted production and shipment schedules.

“Though export performance in the July-April period has been fairly good, it fell short of expectations,” said Mohiuddin Rubel, managing director of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange and former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

“Due to the extended Eid vacation in April, many factories couldn’t ship products on time, which affected the month’s earnings,” he explained.

The readymade garment (RMG) sector, as usual, led the export earnings, bringing in $32.64 billion in the July-April period—an increase of 10% from the previous year.

Of that, knitwear accounted for $17.46 billion, up 10.74%, while woven garments contributed $15.18 billion, reflecting 9.17% growth.

In April 2025, RMG exports reached $2.40 billion, a slight increase from $2.38 billion in April 2024—marking a marginal monthly growth of 0.44%.

Among other sectors, frozen and live fish exports surged by 26.66% in April year-on-year, while engineering products registered a 28.81% rise. Jute and jute goods exports grew modestly by 2.55%.

On the other hand, agricultural product exports dropped by 18.92%, while the export of ships, boats, and floating structures experienced a sharp decline of 20.0% compared to April 2024.

Despite the slowdown in April, exporters remain optimistic about future growth.

Many believe the ongoing US-China trade tensions are encouraging global buyers to diversify sourcing, with Bangladesh benefiting from its competitive pricing and improving manufacturing standards.