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Non-cotton RMG exports hit $9.17b in 9 months
Share climbs to 30.7% of garment exports, but weak backward linkages remain a challenge
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Non-cotton garment exports are gaining ground, earning US$9.17 billion in the first nine months of 2026 and accounting for 30.7% of Bangladesh’s total ready-made garment (RMG) exports.
The figures come from an analysis of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data by Bangladesh Apparel Voice (BAV), a platform that tracks the country’s apparel sector.
Bangladesh earned $38.7 billion from garment exports in the fiscal 2025-26 (FY26), out of total merchandise export earnings of $48 billion.
According to the BAV analysis, total RMG exports under HS codes 61 and 62 stood at $29.91 billion between January and September 2026.
Of this, cotton garments accounted for $20.75 billion, or 69.3%, while non-cotton garments brought in $9.17 billion, or 30.7%.
The share of non-cotton garments increased steadily during the period, rising from 28% in January and February to 31.6% in June, when it crossed the 30% mark for the first time.
The share peaked at 34.6% in August before easing to 32.6% in September. In value terms, non-cotton exports reached their highest monthly level of $1.31 billion in July.
Despite the growth, cotton remains the backbone of Bangladesh’s apparel industry, with monthly exports ranging from $1.97 billion to $2.60 billion during the period.
Non-cotton garments gaining ground
The BAV analysis showed that the growing share of non-cotton garments was driven mainly by higher exports of these products rather than a decline in cotton garment shipments.
Speaking to the Daily Sun, BAV founder and CEO Mohiuddin Rubel said cotton continued to dominate Bangladesh’s apparel exports, but non-cotton products were steadily gaining market share.
“Cotton is still the foundation of Bangladesh’s apparel industry, but the data shows non-cotton products are gaining ground steadily,” he said.
Rubel, a former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said Bangladesh had made progress in non-cotton garment exports but continued to lag behind its global competitors.
“Considering future global demand and the growing market for value-added products, our performance is still inadequate. We need to diversify our products and expand non-cotton garment production to tap into unexplored markets,” he said.
Weak backward linkage industry remains key challenge
Industry insiders said Bangladesh had yet to fully capitalise on growing global demand for non-cotton garments, particularly products made from man-made fibres (MMF).
They said polyester fibres, yarn and fabrics were widely used in international markets because of their durability, versatility, resource efficiency and applications in sustainable and functional clothing.
However, Bangladesh’s heavy dependence on imported raw materials and its weak backward linkage industry remain major obstacles to expanding production.Mohammad Masud Kabir, managing director of Motex Fashion, said global demand for MMF products had increased because of their variety, durability, recyclability and cost-effectiveness.
“Our biggest challenge is our heavy dependence on imported raw materials for non-cotton garments. We need to strengthen our local supply industry to tap into this market’s potential,” he said.
Industry insiders stressed the need to develop local production capacity for synthetic fibres, yarn and fabrics to reduce import dependence and improve competitiveness.
They also called for reliable energy supplies, more efficient supply chains and lower business costs to help Bangladesh compete with major apparel-exporting countries.
Non-traditional markets offer growth opportunities
Industry insiders said Bangladesh had significant opportunities to expand non-cotton garment exports in both traditional and emerging markets through product diversification and improved competitiveness.
EPB data showed that Bangladesh’s apparel exports to its five largest non-traditional markets – Japan, Australia, India, Turkey and South Korea – reached $1.03 billion in July-September of FY27.
This represented a 9.62% increase from $935.30 million during the same period of the previous fiscal year.
The five countries accounted for 56.58% of Bangladesh’s total apparel exports to non-traditional markets, which stood at $1.81 billion during the quarter.
Japan remained the largest non-traditional market, with exports reaching $343.65 million, up 2.61% year-on-year. The country accounted for 18.97% of total exports to non-traditional markets.
Australia ranked second, with exports rising 1.02% to $209.06 million, followed by India, where shipments fell 5.37% to $204.96 million.
India was the only market among the top five to record a decline during the quarter.
Turkey registered the fastest growth, with exports more than doubling to $146.63 million from $65.71 million a year earlier, marking a 123.14% increase.
Exports to South Korea also rose 8.81% to $120.94 million.
Turkey alone contributed an additional $80.92 million, accounting for around 90% of the combined export growth recorded in the five markets.
Excluding Turkey, exports to the other four markets increased by just 1.04%, highlighting the country’s significant contribution to growth in non-traditional markets.