Bangladesh surpasses China in RMG export growth to EU
Bangladesh has recorded faster apparel export growth to the European Union (EU) than China in the first nine months of 2025, driven by strong demand for competitively priced garments from European buyers, according to new data from Eurostat.
From January to September, Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports to the EU rose 13.17% year-on-year to €15.26 billion, up from €13.48 billion in the same period last year. The country remained the second-largest apparel supplier to the European market after China.
China’s exports grew 9.86% during the period, reaching €19.77 billion, but Bangladesh expanded at a faster pace despite facing global economic uncertainty and tightening work orders in recent months.
Despite China retaining the top position in export volume with a 17% rise, closely followed by Bangladesh’s 15.55% increase, Bangladesh has continued to attract EU buyers through more competitive pricing.
The smaller price drop in Bangladesh suggests the country gained market share through competitive costs combined with stable demand from European brands.
Several other major apparel-producing nations also logged strong growth:
India: €3.76 billion in exports, up 10.62% in value and 16.01% in volume; unit prices dropped 4.65%.
Pakistan: €2.90 billion, up 13.77% in value and 15.90% in volume; prices dipped 1.83%.
Cambodia: €3.37 billion, recording a sharp 22.51% value rise and 39.65% growth in volume; unit prices fell 12.27% as exporters pivoted to the EU amid weak US demand.
Turkey: €6.42 billion, down 9.80%, reflecting weaker performance in one of the EU’s traditional sourcing markets.
Overall, the EU imported €68.47 billion worth of apparel from January to September, a 7.14% increase from last year. The growth was driven by a 13.80% surge in import volumes, even as average import prices dropped by 5.86% per kg, indicating rising demand but intense price competition among suppliers.
Bangladesh has maintained its position as the EU’s second-largest apparel supplier for several years, supported by cost competitiveness and strong relationships with European brands. The country has already surpassed China in major segments such as denim and trousers, and in terms of quantity, Bangladesh has long been the largest volume supplier to the EU.
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