Apparel exports to EU drop 19.33pc in Jan-Apr

Bangladesh’s apparel exports to European Union (EU) took a severe hit in the first four months of 2026, recording the steepest decline among major global suppliers amid a broader market contraction, according to the latest Eurostat data.

Bangladesh underperformed compared to its key competitors, suffering from a dual blow of eroding export volumes and falling unit prices, said Mohiuddin Rubel, Former Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Additional Managing Director of Denim Expert Ltd, reports UNB.

According to data presented in the document “EU export document”, total EU apparel imports from across the globe dropped by 10.42 percent year-on-year during the January-April 2026 period, falling to €27.77 billion from €31.00 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.

During this timeframe, Bangladesh’s exports to the EU plummeted by 19.33 percent, dropping to €6.09 billion from €7.54 billion.

Industry experts pointed out that unlike other major competitors who managed to hold ground on either price or volume, Bangladesh lost on both fronts simultaneously.

The country’s export volume fell by 9.91 percent to 435.97 million kg, while its average unit price slid sharply by 10.45 percent to €13.96 per kg.

The single-month data for April 2026 painted an even bleaker picture for the country, showing a sharp 19.53 percent year-on-year drop in value, alongside a 14.63 percent decline in volume and a 5.74 percent dip in unit prices.