Bangladesh’s merchandise exports fell for a fifth consecutive month in December, recording their steepest drop this year as weaker garment shipments pushed overall earnings lower.

Official data show export receipts declined by 14.25% year on year in December 2025, placing export growth in negative territory for the first half of the 2025–26 fiscal year, which runs from July to June.

The downturn was led by the readymade garments (RMG) sector, the country’s largest source of foreign currency, alongside falls in agricultural products and several non-traditional export items.

According to figures released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) on Sunday, Bangladesh earned $3.96bn from exports in December, down from $4.62bn a year earlier.

Exports began contracting in August, with a 2.93% fall year on year. This was followed by declines of 4.61% in September, 7.43% in October, and 5.58% in November.

RMG exports accounted for $3.23bn of December’s earnings, marking a 14.23% decline compared with the same month in 2024.

Overall exports totalled $23.99bn during July–December of the current fiscal year, a 2.19% fall from a year earlier, when earnings stood at $24.53bn.

Garments remained dominant, contributing $19.88bn despite a 2.63% decline. Knitwear exports dropped 3.22% to $10.83bn, while woven garments fell 1.91% to $9.05bn.

Industry sources say the slowdown since August reflects pressure from uneven global demand and shifting market conditions.