Bangladesh’s readymade garments (RMG) sector has shown resilience, posting strong export growth despite global economic headwinds and domestic labour unrest following the fall of the Awami League government last August, according to the latest Bangladesh Bank (BB) report.

Export earnings reached $10.36 billion during October-December of fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), marking a 9% rise from the previous quarter and an 18.6% year-on-year increase.

The growth was driven by a rebound in advanced economies and peak holiday demand in Western markets, the report said.

Despite inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, and rising transportation costs, demand from key export destinations remained strong.

The US, Germany, UK, Spain, France, Netherlands, Italy, Canada, and Belgium accounted for nearly 70% of total RMG earnings, with a 7.13% increase compared to the previous quarter.

Knitwear exports rose 2.61% quarter-on-quarter to $5.48 billion, while woven garment shipments surged 17.23% to $4.88 billion, boosted by rising consumer spending in Europe and the US.

The RMG sector contributed 11.68% to the country’s GDP during the quarter, underscoring its economic significance.