Bangladesh’s merchandise exports fell by about 7% in May, ending a short-lived rebound after months of decline, according to updated figures from the Export Promotion Bureau.
Exports totaled $4.4 billion in May, down from $4.74 billion in the same month a year earlier. The drop was driven largely by weaker shipments from the ready-made garment sector, the country’s largest export earner.
Garment exports fell 8.29% in May to $3.59 billion, reflecting continued pressure on a sector that remains central to Bangladesh’s foreign exchange earnings and industrial employment.
The May decline came after exports briefly returned to growth in April, following eight consecutive months of contraction. That improvement proved temporary, with the latest figures showing renewed weakness.
For the July-to-May period of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh’s overall exports fell by about 2.5% to $43.80 billion. The decline was mainly linked to lower garment shipments, underscoring the economy’s dependence on apparel exports.
The latest data suggests Bangladesh’s export sector remains under strain despite the earlier April recovery.