US Apparel Imports From Bangladesh Rise 26.6%

Bangladesh’s Apparel Exports To The United States Increased By 26.62% In Volume (Measured In Million SME) Between 2015 And 2024, Even As Overall US Apparel Imports Declined By 5.30%, According To Latest Data From The US Government Office Of Textiles And Apparel (OTEXA).

By Comparison, Bangladesh’s Competitors Saw Mixed Results. China Recorded An 18.36% Drop, While Vietnam And India Posted Gains Of 32.96% And 34.13%, Respectively. Indonesia Fell By 19.82%, Whereas Cambodia Rose By 10.78%.

On Pricing, OTEXA Reported A Global 1.71% Decline In Unit Prices. China (-33.80%) And India (-4.56%) Experienced Significant Drops, While Vietnam (+6.64%), Indonesia (+7.38%), And Cambodia (+38.31%) Saw Increases. Bangladesh Also Performed Well, With A 7.30% Rise In Unit Prices, In Line With The Global Average. Industry Experts Believe Bangladesh Still Holds Untapped Potential In The Value-Added Segment.

"When We Analyze Close Competitors Like Vietnam And India, It Becomes Clear That Bangladesh Has Significant Scope To Improve Unit Prices. This Could Boost Export Earnings Without Necessarily Increasing Shipment Volumes," Said Mohiuddin Rubel, Former BGMEA Director And Managing Director Of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange.

Rubel Highlighted Vietnam’s Strategy As An Example. In 2024, Vietnam’s Per-Unit Apparel Export Price To The US Averaged $3.59, Compared To China’s $1.78—Despite Their Export Values Being Nearly Equal.

"The Difference Lies In Value Addition. Bangladesh Must Prioritize Higher-End Products To Strengthen Competitiveness And Ensure Long-Term Growth," He Added.