Bangladesh has posted a strong rebound in the US apparel market, recording a sharp 19.82 percent rise in export value during January–August 2025, according to newly released US trade data.
However, exports from Bangladesh showed a decline, with July figures at $729.81 million dropping to $660.79 million in August, indicating a downward trend.
The latest reciprocal tariff effects are not yet visible in the Otexa data, as Otexa is still reporting August figures, and the tariff was only implemented on 7 August 2025, former Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Mohiuddin Rubel told UNB on Thursday.
The jump pushed Bangladesh’s exports to the US to US$5.64 billion, far ahead of the modest 3.32 percent overall increase in America’s global apparel imports over the same period (January-August).
Industry analysts say the surge was powered primarily by volume growth, supported by stable unit prices.
The unit price per piece from Bangladesh saw a slight increase of 1.08 percent, indicating that the growth was largely volume-driven, with suppliers maintaining stable pricing amidst global competition.
Globally, the US imported $53.01 billion in apparel, registering a 3.32 percent rise in value, a 1.41 percent growth in units (SME), and a 1.88 percent increase in unit price.
The impressive gains by Bangladesh and other nations come at a time when the world’s largest apparel exporter, China, is experiencing a dramatic decline.
China’s exports to the US saw a significant negative growth of -25.45 percent in value and a large -18.90 percent drop in pieces shipped. This retreat from the dominant supplier is creating opportunities that are being seized by manufacturers across South and Southeast Asia.
Although Bangladesh and China represented the extremes, other Asian manufacturing hubs showed strong, though varying results.
Cambodia showed the highest overall growth, with its export value soaring by 28.62 percent and pieces shipped seeing a "huge increase" of 37.87 percent.
However, this volume push came at a cost, as its unit price fell by -6.71 percent.
India and Indonesia both recorded robust value growth, rising by 16.09%** and 15.96 percent respectively, reflecting their growing competitiveness.
Vietnam, another major player, registered a solid 15.69 percent increase in value, while maintaining its unit price with a small 0.64 percent rise—a performance similar to Bangladesh's.
Pakistan saw a 13.40 percent rise in value, supported by a 20.25% surge in volume, but like Cambodia, it experienced a -5.70% decline in its unit price.
The data, shared by Mohiuddin Rubel, Managing Director of the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange, indicates a strategic consolidation of Bangladesh’s position in its largest export market — despite marginal contractions in overall US import demand.