Bangladesh’s exports to Türkiye more than doubled in the first quarter of the 2026–27 fiscal year, highlighting growing opportunities for the country to expand its presence in the Turkish market and diversify its export basket.
According to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh earned $210.54 million from exports to Türkiye during July–September, up 100.11 percent from $105.21 million in the same period a year earlier.
The growth in exports to Türkiye was significantly higher than Bangladesh’s overall merchandise export growth of 6.34 percent during the quarter. The country’s total merchandise exports rose to about $13.09 billion from $12.31 billion a year earlier.
Readymade garments remain Bangladesh’s principal export to Türkiye. Other products shipped to the market include jute and jute goods, footwear, optical products, and equipment used in the medical and textile industries.
Fazle Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said rising incomes and living standards in Türkiye were gradually drawing workers away from the garment industry, creating gaps in domestic production.
That, he said, was contributing to increased demand for imported garments and creating an opportunity for Bangladeshi exporters.
Bangladesh can expand its presence in the Turkish market by leveraging its production capacity, product quality, competitive pricing and ability to ensure timely delivery, Ehsan said.
He also stressed the need to diversify products and increase value addition. Besides higher-value garments, man-made fibre and technical textiles, he identified jute and jute goods, footwear and other products as areas with further export potential.
He said greater engagement between businesses in the two countries would be necessary to capitalize on the opportunity. Trade fairs, buyer-seller meetings and stronger business-to-business contacts could help Bangladeshi companies build a larger presence in Türkiye.
Scope for Wider Trade and Investment
Efforts to expand Bangladesh–Türkiye trade and investment have gained momentum in recent months. During Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s visit to Dhaka in June, the two countries discussed expanding economic cooperation and increasing bilateral trade from roughly $1.3 billion to $2 billion.
The two sides have also discussed exploring a free-trade arrangement and strengthening cooperation in trade and investment.
During a meeting between the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Turkish ambassador in April, the two sides discussed opportunities for joint investment in man-made fibre and technical textiles, imports of raw materials and modern textile machinery from Türkiye, and the use of Turkish Airlines and Istanbul Airport’s logistics facilities to speed up cargo transportation.
Such cooperation could help Bangladesh increase exports beyond conventional garments. Türkiye’s industrial and textile capabilities could provide Bangladeshi manufacturers with access to raw materials, machinery and technical expertise.
Opportunities to import Turkish organic cotton and advanced textile machinery could also help Bangladeshi manufacturers move toward higher-value products.
New Products, New Markets
EPB Vice Chairman Mohammad Hasan Arif said Bangladesh needs to study product-specific export capabilities and buyer demand in order to sustain the recent growth in the Turkish market.
He called for greater attention to expanding markets for jute and jute goods, footwear, manufactured products, and optical, medical and textile-related equipment alongside traditional exports.
The sharp increase in exports during the first quarter suggests that Bangladesh has room to strengthen its position in Türkiye, particularly by expanding beyond ready-made garments.
If exporters can build on the recent growth through product diversification, higher-value manufacturing, investment and joint ventures, Bangladesh and Türkiye could further deepen their economic relationship and move closer to their $2 billion bilateral trade target.
