Written by The Banking Post
Bangladesh’s merchandise exports extended their downward trend in December, posting a double-digit decline for the fifth consecutive month as overseas shipments weakened across key sectors.
Export earnings fell 14.25 per cent year-on-year to $3.96 billion in December 2025, down from $4.62 billion in the same month last year, according to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau.
The slide in exports began in August, when earnings dropped 2.93 per cent from a year earlier. The contraction deepened in subsequent months, with declines of 4.61 per cent in September, 7.43 per cent in October and 5.58 per cent in November.
Readymade garments, the country’s main export earner, continued to weigh heavily on overall performance. The sector brought in $3.23 billion in December, marking a 14.23 per cent fall from a year earlier.
Despite the December setback, cumulative exports in the first half of FY26 stood at $23.99 billion, reflecting a 2.19 per cent year-on-year decline. In comparison, export earnings reached $24.53 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
