Garment exports to the United States from Bangladesh have increased, with income rising as orders accumulated in July and August are now being fulfilled. Traders anticipate further growth, fueled by the Trump administration’s anti-China trade stance. However, there are concerns that the ongoing gas and electricity crisis could become a significant hurdle to future exports.
The United States remains the largest market for Bangladesh's ready-made garment exports. In December 2024, the country shipped $580 million worth of garments to the U.S., up from $470 million in the same month the previous year. Overall, Bangladesh's garment exports to the U.S. reached $7.34 billion in 2024, slightly higher than the $7.29 billion in 2023.
According to the data, garment exports increased by 0.75 percent. Mohiuddin Rubel, former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association said that garment exports increased slightly in December.
Another exporter said that the situation we have had to go through since July. Compared to last year, this time the export is very good.
Data shows that in 2024, the United States imported $79.26 billion worth of garments. Which was $77.93 billion the previous year. The country's garments products imports increased by 1.71 percent in a year.
Vietnam is the largest exporter of clothing to the US market, with a growth of 5.5 percent. In 2024, Vietnam exported clothing worth $14.98 billion. Which was $14.18 billion in the previous year.
India is next in terms of growth. In 2024, the country exported garments products worth $4.69 billion. Which was $4.47 billion in 2023. The third highest growth was achieved by China. Last year, China exported garments products worth $16.51 billion. Which was $16.38 billion in 2023.
Bangladesh is in fourth place. However, the imposition of an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese product exports to the US market has created a big opportunity for Bangladesh.
Mohiuddin Rubel said that this is a big opportunity for us. But the current scenario of worker dissatisfaction, rising interest rates and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) policies are causing us various problems.
Exporters said that Bangladesh has a huge opportunity to increase its garment exports to the United States. This opportunity will not come again and again. How ready are we to utilize it? Is the government providing us with timely policy support? So even if we get the opportunity, it will be difficult to utilize it.
The US-China trade war started in 2018. As a result, many purchase orders from China were diverted to Bangladesh at that time. At that time, the country exported garments worth $5.93 billion to the United States. That was the highest in seven years.
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
