Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Bangladesh's apparel export to the United States, its single-largest market, recorded a robust 25.13-percent growth in the first half of this year.
According to US official count, the exports grew both in terms of value and volume in the six months of 2025.
Readymade garment exports from Bangladesh during the January-June period singly fetched US$4.25 billion, marking the 25.13-percent growth, according to the data released Tuesday by OTEXA, an affiliate of the US Department of Commerce.
Bangladesh earned US$ 3.39 billion in the same period of 2024.
The growth rate also surpassed the global average of 6.76 per cent, placing Bangladesh ahead of main competitors, though Vietnam became top exporter pushing China behind.
During the period, Bangladesh shipped 1.37 billion square meters of garments--23.81-percent higher than 1.11 billion square meters sent in the corresponding period of 2024.
America's overall apparel imports during January-June 2025 stood at US$38.15 billion, up from $35.74 billion in the corresponding period of last year.
The rise reflects improved consumer demand and the ongoing recalibration of supply chains, particularly in response to trade and tariff shifts involving China.
Vietnam, which overtook China in the first half of 2025 to become leading apparel exporter to the US, shipped RMG items worth US$7.76 billion, accounting for about 18-percent growth.
China dropped in the second position with US$5.72 billion worth of apparel shipments with a 16.14-percent year-on-year negative growth, highlighting the effects of renewed tariff barriers and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Talking to the FE, Shovon Islam, managing director of Sparrow Group, one of the leading exporters to the USA, said America is the largest market that has huge growth potential for Bangladesh.
And that's why the reciprocal tariff is important and they pressed for a more competitive tariff rate from the US than other major producers, he said.
"As Bangladesh faces additional 20-percent tariff--compared to Vietnam's as much, 20 per cent, and India's 25 per cent--its competitive standing has improved," he said.
"If the duty had been higher, the situation could be disastrous," he noted.
Though some orders were put on hold while some other shipments deferred initially, there were some advance shipments to meet the July-31st deadline and avoid possible enhanced tariffs by the Trump administration, he explains the situation on the cusp of shifts in trade dynamics.
On July 7, US President Donald Trump officially notified Bangladesh of a flat 35-per cent tariff to be imposed on all Bangladeshi exports which on August 01 was reduced to 20 per cent, following tradeoffs.
However, there was a clause that if the exporters could ship their products to the inland container depot by July 31, they would be charged tariff at the old rate, which sent exporters in scrambles to dispatch the products as early as possible.
Mr Islam says the shifted orders from China are coming to countries including Bangladesh though Vietnam grabbed the larger share.
Responding to a question, he said, "Bangladesh has much potential to grab the Chinese orders provided there be requisite government policy supports like monetary assistance, including long-term policy, smooth energy supply, measures to reduce long lead time by easing customs procedures, increasing port efficiency."
On industry part, they will make investment in research and development, innovation, automation, skills development and enhance focus on manmade fibre (MMF)-based garment production.
He mentions that Vietnam is not increasing its garment production capacity while India that has come up with long-term strategic plans to increase garment exports now announced special subsidy for export-oriented sector.
India's apparel exports rose by 16.26 per cent to US$2.83 billion during the January-to-June period.
Indonesia recorded an 18-percent increase in apparel shipments to US$2.25 billion, continuing its steady growth as a supplier to the US market.
Cambodia witnessed 24.29-percent rise in exports, reaching US$1.98 billion, during the period under consideration.
Pakistan also recorded a growth of 11.22 per cent to bag US $1.10 billion from the US market.
Munni_fe@yahoo.com