Top Exportable Products from Bangladesh

Md. Joynal Abdin
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB)

Editor, T&IB Business Directory; Executive Director, Online Training Academy (OTA)
Secretary General, Brazil Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BBCCI)

Bangladesh has built one of the world’s most competitive export ecosystems by combining large-scale manufacturing, an increasingly diversified supplier base, and strong integration with global value chains. Export earnings from merchandise alone reached about US$44.47 billion in FY 2023–24, and then rose to roughly US$48.28 billion in FY 2024–25, reflecting the country’s ability to expand trade even amid global price pressure, logistics disruptions, and shifting buyer compliance expectations. For Bangladeshi exporters, this growth signals expanding opportunities to move up the value chain; for foreign importers, it indicates a deepening market of reliable suppliers across both established and emerging product categories.

1) Readymade Garments: Bangladesh’s Flagship Export

Ready-made garments (RMG) remain the country’s largest export pillar and a key reason Bangladesh is consistently recognized among the world’s top apparel exporters. In FY 2024–25, Bangladesh’s apparel exports reached around US$39.35 billion, showing continued strength in knitwear and woven categories despite volatility in unit prices and lead-time expectations.
Bangladesh’s competitive advantage is strongest where scale, compliance, and consistent quality meet: basic and mid-range fashion, knit products, denim, casualwear, workwear, and an expanding base of value-added items. For importers, the supplier landscape ranges from large composite mills to specialized factories, enabling both mass-volume sourcing and niche product development when managed with strong technical packs, testing, and on-time delivery control.

2) Home Textiles: A Natural Extension of Textile Strength

Home textiles such as bed linen, towels, curtains, and terry products benefit directly from the country’s mature textile manufacturing base and export experience. Buyers who already source apparel from Bangladesh often find home textiles a logical adjacent category due to shared inputs, compliance systems, and shipping networks. Market demand also tends to be stable because home textiles serve both household and institutional segments, including hospitality and healthcare.

3) Jute and Jute Goods: Sustainability-Driven Potential

Jute remains one of Bangladesh’s most strategic “green” export categories, aligned with global sustainability goals and plastic-reduction policies. Recent export earnings show the sector’s importance even during demand fluctuations: jute and jute goods export receipts were around US$855 million in FY 2023–24 and about US$820 million in FY 2024–25.
The strongest export opportunities are in diversified jute products where design, finishing, and branding matter shopping bags, home décor, floor coverings, packaging solutions, and blended textiles. For importers, jute products can be positioned as eco-friendly alternatives while still meeting durability and cost requirements if quality control and moisture-safe packaging are properly managed.

4) Leather, Leather Goods, and Footwear: Moving Toward Higher Value

Bangladesh’s leather and footwear segment offers strong export potential when compliance, environmental standards, and traceability are handled carefully. Recent reporting shows leather and leather goods around the US$1 billion level in performance periods, with footwear particularly leather footwear showing meaningful growth in several export updates.
Importers looking for competitive sourcing beyond traditional hubs often evaluate Bangladesh for footwear manufacturing capacity, flexible order sizes, and improving product finishing. Exporters can gain higher margins by focusing on consistent grading, finishing, chemical compliance, and buyer-required audits.

5) Frozen Foods and Seafood: Strong Niche Demand in Global Markets

Frozen fish, shrimp, and other seafood remain important for Bangladesh, especially where buyers prioritize consistent processing standards, cold-chain reliability, and certification. This category benefits from steady international demand, though exporters must manage strict requirements related to traceability, residue compliance, and packaging integrity. With correct standards and documentation, seafood can generate repeat orders and long-term importer relationships.

6) Agro-Processed Foods: Branding, Safety, and Diaspora Demand

Agro-processed items such as snacks, spices, bakery products, fruit-based products, and ready-to-cook ingredients are increasingly exportable when food safety systems, shelf-life testing, and labeling compliance are handled professionally. For foreign importers, Bangladeshi processed foods can perform well in diaspora-driven markets and ethnic retail channels, and can also enter mainstream retail when product differentiation and certifications are strong.

7) Pharmaceuticals: A Fast-Growing Diversification Story

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports have expanded steadily over the years, supported by new markets and product diversification. In FY 2024–25, pharmaceutical exports reached about US$213 million, more than doubling over a seven-year period according to recent reporting.
Importers in emerging and frontier markets often value Bangladesh for competitive pricing and expanding product portfolios, while exporters can strengthen growth through dossier readiness, regulatory alignment, and market-specific distribution partnerships.

8) ICT and IT-Enabled Services: Exporting Skill, Not Only Goods

Service exports particularly ICT and IT-enabled services are a rising opportunity for Bangladesh, especially in software development, digital content, support services, and remote delivery models. Recent reporting indicates ICT service exports of about US$724.6 million in FY 2024–25.
For foreign companies, Bangladesh can be a cost-effective sourcing destination for skilled digital work when vendor management, cybersecurity standards, and clear delivery KPIs are in place.

9) Ceramics, Plastics, and Light Engineering: Quietly Expanding Categories

Bangladesh’s ceramics (tableware and tiles), plastics, bicycles, and light engineering items represent practical diversification paths because they leverage manufacturing capacity, competitive labor, and improving industrial standards. These sectors often grow through targeted market entry, distributor partnerships, and consistent compliance with technical specifications. Importers exploring alternative supply sources frequently shortlist Bangladesh for these categories when they need flexible production and attractive pricing with reliable inspection processes.

Export Support Services of Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB)

For exporters aiming to scale and for importers seeking trustworthy sourcing, execution matters as much as product selection. Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB) supports businesses across the export journey starting from product and market selection to buyer identification, outreach, and negotiation support. T&IB assists with export readiness and compliance planning, HS code guidance and documentation support, buyer–seller matchmaking, and practical coordination with logistics, shipping, and packaging requirements. For companies that need faster international visibility, T&IB also provides digital marketing support to strengthen overseas lead generation and credibility, helping exporters present professionally to foreign buyers and procurement teams.

Contact Details of T&IB

Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB)
House-486, Adorsho School Road, North Dhania, Dhaka-1236, Bangladesh
Phone/WhatsApp: +880 1553 676767
Email: info@tradeandinvestmentbangladesh.com; info@mdjoynalabdin.com
Website: tradeandinvestmentbangladesh.com

Closing Remarks

Bangladesh is no longer only a single-sector export story; it is an expanding portfolio of globally relevant products and services anchored by world-class apparel capacity and strengthened by rising sectors like jute diversification, leather and footwear, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, and ICT services. Exporters who combine product quality, compliance, and consistent delivery with professional buyer communication can capture durable growth. Importers who approach Bangladesh with clear specifications, realistic lead times, and long-term partnership intent can secure competitive sourcing with improving sophistication year after year.