Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) exports to non-traditional markets hit a record monthly high in August 2026, underlining the momentum behind the country’s efforts to diversify its apparel export destinations.
According to figures from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh shipped apparel worth $642.93 million to non-traditional destinations in August—the highest single-month earning recorded from these emerging markets.
The milestone follows two years of relatively sluggish growth in non-traditional destination exports.
EPB data reveals that average monthly RMG exports to these destinations climbed to $611.60 million during the first two months of the 2026–27 fiscal year, up from $574.38 million recorded in FY 2025–26.
Non-traditional markets are also taking up a larger footprint in the country's overall RMG portfolio. They accounted for 16.32 percent of total garment exports in the first two months of FY 2026–27, compared to 15.93 percent across FY 2025–26.
Speaking to BSS, Bangladesh Apparel Voice Chief Executive Officer Mohiuddin Rubel highlighted the immense untapped scope in these destinations.
“These markets have lacked strategic focus for a long time. Now is the time to prioritize these regions and harness their potential,” Rubel said.
He emphasized that non-traditional destinations are not strictly limited to high-value garments, as demand spans a wide range of product categories.
“Collectively, these countries represent apparel markets worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Expanding into non-traditional destinations is critical to reducing our reliance on traditional markets and driving long-term export growth,” he added.
Among non-traditional buyers in August, Japan topped the list with RMG imports worth $118.67 million from Bangladesh.
Shipments to Australia reached $75.14 million, followed by India ($72.78 million), Türkiye ($59.57 million), and the Republic of Korea ($45.15 million).
Exports to other key emerging destinations included Mexico ($32.97 million), the United Arab Emirates ($28.62 million), Brazil ($24.24 million), China ($20.70 million), and Saudi Arabia ($19.25 million).
Additionally, Bangladesh exported garments worth $15.98 million to Malaysia, $13.15 million to Chile, $13.10 million to South Africa, $9.79 million to Russia, and $8.61 million to New Zealand. Shipments to remaining non-traditional destinations totaled $85.21 million during the month.
Overall, Bangladesh recorded total RMG export earnings of $3.608 billion in August, with non-traditional markets contributing $642.93 million of that sum.
The latest trade figures point to accelerating market diversification, giving Bangladesh's RMG sector greater resilience and expanding its global reach beyond conventional export hubs.
Financial Mirror/AH
