Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the United States crossed $8 billion in 2025, rising 11.71 per cent year-on-year to $8.20 billion despite a 1.74 per cent decline in total US apparel imports, according to official US data.
Data from the US Department of Commerce Office of Textiles and Apparel show total US apparel imports fell to $77.88 billion in January–December 2025 from a year earlier.
Bangladesh’s shipments increased from $7.34 billion in 2024 to $8.20 billion in 2025, marking the second-highest annual export figure on record.
The growth was driven mainly by higher export volumes.
Bangladesh exported 2,661.50 million square metre equivalents to the US market in 2025, up 12.32 per cent from 2,369.60 million square metre equivalents in 2024.
However, the average unit price of Bangladeshi garments edged down 0.54 per cent to $3.08 per square metre equivalent in 2025 from $3.10 in 2024, indicating continued pricing pressure in the US market.
In December 2025 alone, shipments rose 3.33 per cent to $599.76 million.
Bangladesh captured 10.53 per cent of total US apparel imports during the year.
Vietnam retained the largest share at 21.50 per cent, with exports increasing 11.79 per cent to $16.75 billion.
China’s shipments fell 35.54 per cent to $10.64 billion, reducing its market share to 13.66 per cent.
India, Cambodia and Indonesia held shares of 6.35 per cent, 6.20 per cent and 5.98 per cent respectively, while Mexico and Honduras recorded declines.
Import performance weakened in the final quarter of 2025 as cautious buying patterns and uncertainty over reciprocal tariff measures dampened demand.
Industry insiders said Bangladesh’s double-digit growth in export volume suggests US buyers are shifting sourcing towards competitive suppliers amid changing trade dynamics.
“Despite declining overall demand and trade policy uncertainties, Bangladesh performed quite well in the US market in 2025,” said former Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association director Mohiuddin Rubel.
Rubel, also additional managing director of Denim Expert Ltd, said China is gradually losing ground in the US apparel market, while Bangladesh and Vietnam are showing broadly similar trends in value, unit price and volume growth, although Vietnam continues to hold a significantly larger overall market share.
