Wazir, BKMEA, CED Launch Apparel Trade Update
12 August 2026: Wazir Advisors, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and the Center for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) at BRAC University have launched the first edition of the Bangladesh and Global Apparel Trade Update, a monthly market-intelligence report for the apparel trade.
Published by Wazir Advisors in association with BKMEA and CED-BRAC University, the report tracks Bangladesh apparel exports alongside global trade, retail demand and competitive positioning. It is aimed at manufacturers, exporters, policymakers, brands, investors and development organisations.
July 2026 export snapshot
The July 2026 edition puts Bangladesh apparel exports at USD 4.0 billion for the month, up 25% year on year from USD 3.2 billion in July 2025. June 2026 stood at USD 3.4 billion. January to July 2026 exports totalled USD 23.3 billion, up 3% from USD 22.6 billion a year earlier, according to Export Promotion Bureau figures used in the report.
Knitwear remained the larger segment in the July mix, at 55% of exports, with wovenwear at 45%, according to the partners. Shipments to the United States reached USD 0.8 billion in July, up 29% year on year. Within the EU, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands were the top three destinations, with exports of about USD 0.47 billion, USD 0.39 billion and USD 0.23 billion respectively.
Import demand softer in key markets
The report also flags softer apparel import demand in several major buying markets. In May 2026, EU apparel imports were down 2% year on year, while US apparel imports were still 9% lower on a year-to-date basis despite a 3% rise in May alone. That import-side softness sits alongside Bangladesh’s stronger July export print, rather than a fall in Bangladesh’s own shipments to those markets.
What the partners said
Varun Vaid, Executive Director, Wazir Advisors, said reliable and actionable market intelligence has become essential for businesses in the global apparel industry, and that the monthly report is meant to give stakeholders concise, data-driven insights for planning across the value chain.
Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, Executive President of BKMEA, said Bangladesh’s knitwear industry continues to show resilience and remains a key driver of national apparel exports. He said timely market intelligence can help manufacturers spot opportunities and strengthen competitiveness as sourcing patterns change.
Future editions are expected to cover Bangladesh apparel exports, global apparel imports and exports, supply-chain developments, retail sales and e-commerce trends in key markets.
Afshana Choudhury, Head of CED-BRAC University, said collaboration between academia and industry is needed to build a more competitive apparel sector and that the joint report supports evidence-based research and policy discussion.
CED-BRAC University publicly noted the three-party collaboration in late July 2026. The July edition is already listed among BKMEA publications, with Wazir Advisors as publisher.
