New record in apparel exports to non-traditional markets, $642.93 million in August
Photo: Collected
The importance of non-traditional markets in Bangladesh’s readymade garment exports is growing day by day. In August of the current 2026-27 fiscal year, apparel exports to these markets reached a record $642.93 million, which is the highest export to these markets in a single month.
Although there was not much progress in apparel exports to non-traditional markets over the last two years, the picture has changed in the current fiscal year. Data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) show that, alongside August’s record exports, average monthly exports to these markets have also increased. Average monthly exports were $574.38 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, which rose to $611.60 million in the first two months of the current fiscal year.
As exports have risen, the share of non-traditional markets in total apparel exports has also increased. In the 2025-26 fiscal year, 15.93 per cent of total readymade garment exports came from these markets; in the current fiscal year it has risen to 16.32 per cent.
Bangladesh Apparel Voice Chief Executive Officer Mohiuddin Rubel told BSS that there is huge potential to increase Bangladesh’s apparel exports to non-traditional markets. Not much attention was paid to these markets for so long. The time has now come to give them importance and tap the potential.
He said non-traditional markets do not mean markets for expensive garments only. There is huge demand for various types of readymade garments in these countries; all in all, these countries have an apparel market worth hundreds of billions of dollars. So non-traditional markets need to be given strategic importance to increase exports by reducing dependence on traditional markets.
According to EPB data, the largest destination for Bangladesh’s readymade garments among non-traditional markets in August was Japan, where apparel worth $118.67 million was exported. This was followed by apparel exports worth $75.14 million to Australia, $72.78 million to India, $59.57 million to Turkey and $45.15 million to the Republic of Korea.
Besides, apparel worth $32.97 million was exported to Mexico, $28.62 million to the United Arab Emirates, $24.24 million to Brazil, $20.70 million to China and $19.25 million to Saudi Arabia.
During the same period, apparel worth $15.98 million went 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. Apparel worth another $85.21 million was exported to other non-traditional markets.
According to EPB figures, Bangladesh’s total readymade garment exports in August were $3,608.89 million. Of this, exports of $642.93 million to non-traditional markets have further strengthened the prospect of expanding into new markets.
This trend of diversifying export destinations is creating an opportunity to increase the presence of Bangladeshi apparel in new markets alongside reducing dependence on traditional markets. August’s record exports and the growing share of non-traditional markets in the current fiscal year have made the prospect of market diversification even clearer.
