Bangladesh, Sept. 17 -- Bangladesh has recorded the sharpest decline in garment exports to the European Union among major apparel-supplying countries, even as key competitors China and Vietnam expanded their presence in the bloc's market.

The country's garment exporters shipped products worth 10.37 billion euros to the 27-nation bloc between January and July, down 13.65 percent from the same period last year, according to updated Eurostat data released on Wednesday.

"No other country's exports to the EU have fallen by as much. What is more concerning is that our decline is the highest," said former BGMEA director Mohiuddin Rubel.

Turkey recorded the second-highest decline at 13.32 percent, followed by India at 12.24 percent, Pakistan ...