Export of goods from Bangladesh 2023

Total exports of goods from Bangladesh rose to 55.79 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. This is the highest level in ten years, nearly double the 2013 figure. Much of these exports are garments and textiles. 

Why exports matter

Net exports are an important component of gross domestic product (GDP), the most common measure of a country’s economic success. Bangladesh tends to have a trade deficit, but the increasing value of exports will offset this loss. Additionally, the manufacturing sector, and in particular the garment industry, contribute to Bangladesh’s low unemployment rate, offering jobs that pay better than many others in the country.

Bangladesh and garmets

Bangladesh has one of the lowest monthly miminum wages worldwide. However, the garmet industry has fueled significant economic growth . For this reason, people both inside and outside of Bangladesh have conflicting views over the industry there. Human rights activists regularly spotlight the poor and dangerous working contitions in such factories. However, the average monthly wages in the industry are enough to lift entire families out of extreme poverty. As long as the business makes sense, the garment industry will continue to make use of Bangladeshi labor, contributing to the exports measured in this statistic.