Bangladesh exported $799.56 million worth of garments to the U.S. market, marking a 45.93% increase in january 2025 compared to January of the previous year, when export earnings stood at $547.95 million. This data comes from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) under the U.S. Department of Commerce. According to OTEXA U.S. importers purchased $7.2 billion worth of apparel from various countries in January, compared to $6.03 billion in January of the previous year, reflecting a 19.5% increase in overall U.S. apparel imports.
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The U.S. remains the largest market for Bangladeshi apparel and Bangladesh started recovering in this market last year. Although 2024 did not see massive growth, the trend remained positive with total Bangladeshi apparel exports reaching $7.34 billion—a 0.75% increase from 2023. In contrast, exports dropped by 25% in 2023, amounting to $7.29 billion, primarily due to the Russia-Ukraine war’s impact on the U.S. market. Meanwhile, after former U.S. President Donald Trump took office, he imposed higher import tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China. This has sparked discussions among Bangladeshi apparel industry leaders about new opportunities in the U.S. market. With an additional 10% tariff on Chinese products, U.S. buyers are expected to shift orders from China potentially benefiting Bangladesh’s garment sector. Additionally, investors may look for alternative manufacturing destinations outside of China, and Bangladesh could capitalize on this shift. However, industry leaders believe the recent growth in apparel exports is mainly due to an economic rebound in the U.S., leading to increased orders.
According to OTEXA China exported $1.6 billion worth of garments to the U.S. in January reflecting a 13.72% increase compared to the same period last year. Vietnam exported $1.44 billion worth of garments marking a 19.9% increase from last January. This shift in global apparel trade presents a strategic opportunity for Bangladesh to expand its footprint in the U.S. market.
Source: The Daily Ittefaq
