Staff Reporter :
Despite facing challenges such as political unrest, an economic crisis, and labour disputes, Bangladesh achieved a notable year-on-year increase of 33.78 per cent in apparel exports to the EU in October, marking the strongest growth recorded in the first 10 months of the year, according to data from the EU’s statistical office, Eurostat.
From January to October 2024, EU apparel imports showed mixed trends, totalling US$77.78 billion-a modest year-on-year rise of 0.58 per cent.
This brought the EU’s year-to-date clothing import growth to positive territory, recovering from a -2.02 per cent decline in January-September 2024.
While overall import value and volume slightly increased, a deeper analysis reveals varied performance across sourcing countries.
China, a major supplier, recorded a small growth of 1.14 per cent in apparel export value to the EU during this period, signalling potential shifts in the global apparel market.
Vietnam and Cambodia also saw growth of 3.31 per cent and 20.66 per cent, respectively. In contrast, Bangladesh’s exports to the EU grew by only 1.43 per cent, despite a 6.68 per cent rise in export volume.
This growth was offset by a 4.92 per cent decline in unit prices, highlighting competitive pressures.
Notably, unit prices for most suppliers, including Bangladesh, fell in 2024 compared to 2023, reflecting heightened competition within the global apparel industry.
China’s unit prices declined by 8.63 per cent during this period, according to Mohiuddin Rubel, former BGMEA Director and Additional Managing Director of Denim Expert Ltd.
Rubel observed that while the EU’s overall demand for apparel remains robust, the competitive landscape is shifting.
Some suppliers are gaining a stronger foothold, whereas others, including Bangladesh, are grappling with challenges in sustaining price competitiveness.
