Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 4th October 2025, 12:03 PM
The volume of apparel imports by the United States from Bangladesh — measured in million Square Metre Equivalents (SME) — rose by 26.62 percent between 2015 and 2024, even as the overall apparel import volume to the USA declined by 5.30 percent, according to data from the US Government Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA).
This indicates a remarkable strengthening of Bangladesh’s position in the US apparel market despite global slowdowns and competitive pressure.
Comparative Performance of Key Apparel Exporters to the USA (2015–2024)
| Country | Change in Import Volume (%) | Change in Unit Price (%) |
| Bangladesh | +26.62 | +7.30 |
| China | −18.36 | −33.80 |
| Vietnam | +32.96 | +6.64 |
| India | +34.13 | −4.56 |
| Indonesia | −19.82 | +7.38 |
| Cambodia | +10.78 | +38.31 |
| Global Average | −5.30 | −1.71 |
Despite global volatility and shrinking demand, Bangladesh’s apparel exports have outperformed the market, demonstrating resilience and increasing appeal to US buyers.
Industry analysts observe that Bangladesh’s unit price level now aligns closely with the global average the USA pays for apparel imports.
However, Mohiuddin Rubel, former Director of BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association) and current Managing Director of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange and Additional MD of Denim Expert Ltd, emphasised the potential for improvement.
“When we examine close competitors like Vietnam and India, it becomes clear that Bangladesh has significant potential to raise its unit price. Enhancing value addition could drive export growth without increasing shipment volume,” Rubel explained.
Rubel stressed that value addition is the key to long-term competitiveness. He pointed to export data from China and Vietnam in 2024, noting that although their total export values are nearly identical, Vietnam’s export volume is less than half that of China.
| Country | Export Value (USD) | Export Volume (Relative) | Average Unit Price (USD) |
| China | ≈ Equal to Vietnam | 2× Vietnam’s volume | $1.78 |
| Vietnam | ≈ Equal to China | ½ of China’s volume | $3.59 |
“This gap exists because Vietnam exports more value-added products, commanding higher prices per unit,” Rubel noted.
“For Bangladesh, focusing on value-enhanced, higher-end products will be crucial to improving both export volume and market competitiveness in the years ahead.”
As global markets shift towards quality and sustainability, Bangladesh’s strategic move towards value-added apparel production could cement its position as one of the USA’s most reliable suppliers.
With steady unit price growth and robust volume performance, Bangladesh continues to emerge as a vital player in the global textile value chain.
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