Exports surge to nearly $33b in eight months

Bangladesh’s export performance in February saw a slide from January, but there was a steady growth of 2.77 percent compared to February of the previous year.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the export earnings in February 2025 reached US $3.97 billion, reflecting a 2.77 percent growth compared to the same month last year.

Meanwhile, total exports for the July-February period of FY 2024-25 stood at $32.94 billion, marking a 10.53 percent increase from $29.81 billion recorded during the same period in the previous fiscal year.

As in previous months, the apparel sector remained the dominant contributor, with exports amounting to $3.24 billion, posting a modest 1.66 percent growth compared to February 2024.

Several non-traditional sectors registered notable growth in February 2025, including:

1. Leather and leather goods: 34.37 percent

2. Frozen and live fish: 26.66%

3. Plastic products: 7.97 percent

4. Agricultural products: 7.03 percent

But some sectors experienced a decline in export earnings during the same period. These include:

1. Jute and jute goods minus (-) 11.39 percent

2. Light engineering products (-) 1.56 percent

3. Home textiles (-) 0.23 percent

Despite challenges in certain sectors, the overall positive growth trajectory underscores Bangladesh’s resilience and competitiveness in the global export market, said Md Anwar Hossain, the Vice-Chairman of EPB.

The export target for FY 2024-25 has been set at $50 billion, representing a projected growth of 12.44% over the previous fiscal year.

This ambitious goal reflects the nation’s commitment to expanding its global trade footprint and strengthening its position in the international marketplace as stated by the EPB in an official remark on exports.