News Desk

Bangladesh’s export earnings recorded a strong recovery in April of the current fiscal year, crossing the $4 billion mark after a notable slowdown in previous months, according to official data.

Figures released on May 3 by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) show that export earnings in April rose by 32.92% compared to the same month a year earlier. On a month-to-month basis, exports also showed solid growth, increasing by 15.2% from $3.48 billion in March.

Despite this strong rebound in April, overall export performance for the July–April period of the fiscal year remained slightly weaker than the previous year. Total earnings stood at $39.39 billion, marking a 2.02% decline compared to $40.21 billion recorded during the same period in the last fiscal year.

The ready-made garment (RMG) sector, which continues to be the backbone of the export economy of Bangladesh, played a central role in driving the April recovery. However, cumulative performance for the sector still reflected a downturn over the ten-month period.

According to EPB data, RMG exports reached $31.72 billion during July–April of FY 2025–26, registering a 2.82% decrease from $32.64 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Despite this contraction in overall cumulative performance, monthly figures showed strong momentum.

In April alone, apparel exports surged by 31.21% year-on-year, rising from $2.39 billion in April 2025 to $3.14 billion in April 2026. Within the sector, both knitwear and woven garments contributed to the growth trend. Knitwear exports increased to $1.70 billion, reflecting a 30.02% rise, while woven garments climbed to $1.44 billion, marking a 32.65% increase compared to the same month last year.

Analysts suggest that the April rebound may indicate improving global demand conditions and stronger order flows, although sustained recovery will depend on stability in international markets and continued competitiveness of Bangladesh’s export sector.