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Bangladesh's exports to Turkey more than doubled in the first quarter of the current fiscal year 2026-27, highlighting the growing potential of the Turkish market for the country's export diversification drive.
Exports to Turkey reached US$210.54 million during July-September of fiscal year 2026-27, up 100.11 percent from US$105.21 million in the same period of the previous fiscal year, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
Bangladesh mainly exports apparel products to Turkey, while jute and jute goods, footwear, and optical, medical and textile-related equipment are also among the products traded with the market.
The strong growth in exports offers an opportunity for Bangladesh to consolidate its position in the Turkish market and explore new product categories beyond its traditional export basket.
Talking to BSS, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Executive President Fazle Shamim Ehsan said that as the standard of living and income levels in Turkey have increased, workers in the country are gradually moving away from the readymade garment (RMG) industry.
As a result, a supply gap is emerging in local production, increasing demand for imported garments to meet the shortfall, he added.
"This has created a promising market for Bangladesh's RMG exports. There is an opportunity to further penetrate this market by leveraging Bangladesh's production capacity, product quality, competitive prices and ability to ensure timely delivery," he said.
Fazle Shamim also said that to capitalize on this potential, Bangladesh needs to focus not only on RMG but also on product diversification and value addition.
Further, he mentioned that there is scope to expand the market for high-value garments, man-made fibre (MMF) and technical textiles, as well as jute and jute products, footwear and other promising products.
He also stressed the need to strengthen connectivity and business ties with Turkey both the government and private sector should work in coordination to expand exports to new markets.
Bangladesh's presence in the Turkish market can be further strengthened through participation in international trade fairs, buyer-seller meetings and increased business-to-business engagement, he added.
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Muhammad Hasan Arif said Bangladesh needs to strengthen its presence in international markets through a more focused assessment of product-wise export performance, buyer demand and emerging market opportunities.
He said exporters should identify products that have strong demand in specific markets and explore opportunities to diversify Bangladesh's export basket beyond traditional products and destinations.
Such an approach would help Bangladesh expand its export footprint and reduce dependence on a limited number of products and markets, Arif added.
Turkey's export performance stands out against Bangladesh's overall export growth of 6.34 percent in the first quarter of FY2026-27.
Bangladesh's total merchandise exports rose to US$13.09 billion during July-September from US$12.31 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
Apart from readymade garments, Arif said jute and jute goods could offer significant opportunities for further expansion in the Turkish market, particularly through the promotion of diversified and value-added products.
"Footwear and other manufactured goods may also provide scope for broadening the range of Bangladeshi exports, subject to market demand, product quality and competitiveness," he added.
He said expanding exports of optical, medical and textile-related equipment would require a detailed assessment of product-specific demand, technical standards, certification requirements and the capacity of Bangladeshi manufacturers to meet buyers' specifications.
The EPB vice chairman said trade promotion activities, buyer-seller meetings, participation in international trade fairs and stronger business-to-business links could help exporters identify new opportunities in Turkey.
"EPB is always undertaking these activities," he said.
Arif also stressed that exporters would need to maintain competitive prices, ensure consistent product quality and provide reliable delivery services to sustain and expand the recent growth in the Turkish market.
