Bangladesh garment exports to US rise 27% over past decade: OTEXA
Bangladesh has continued to show strong growth in garment exports to the United States over the last ten years, even as shipments from several competing countries declined. Data from the US Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) shows that while total US garment imports from the world fell by 5.3% between 2015 and 2024, imports from Bangladesh increased by 26.6% during the same period.
The per-unit price of garments imported into the US declined slightly on average by 1.71%, yet Bangladesh recorded a 7.3% rise in per-unit prices, indicating a shift toward higher-value exports.
Competitor nations faced mixed results. China’s garment exports to the US fell by 18.4%, Indonesia’s by 19.8%, and South Korea’s by 45%. In contrast, Vietnam and India saw their exports grow by 33% and 34%, respectively, while Cambodia experienced the largest increase in unit prices at 38.3%. Vietnam, despite exporting less than half the volume of China, achieved a similar total export value due to a focus on higher-priced garments.
Industry experts suggest that Bangladesh’s consistent growth in both volume and unit value reflects its strength in quality and value-added garment exports, positioning it as a key supplier in the US market amidst global competition.
