Bangladesh has successfully defended its position as the world’s second-largest readymade garment (RMG) exporter for the fifth consecutive year, buoyed by American retailers continuing to pivot their sourcing away from China despite significant domestic industrial hurdles.
According to World Trade Statistical Review 2025 released by World Trade Organization (WTO), the country exported apparel worth $38.82 billion last year.
This performance places Bangladesh approximately $2 billion ahead of its closest competitor, Vietnam.
While Bangladesh maintained its global ranking, the report noted a modest year-on-year export growth of nearly 1 per cent, whereas Vietnam recorded a much sharper growth rate of approximately 11 per cent.
Performance in the United States market, however, has faced recent headwinds. Data from US Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) indicates that Bangladesh’s RMG exports to the US fell by 8.1 per cent to $3.25 billion between January and May compared to the same period last year.
Despite this dip, Bangladesh’s export decline was less severe than the overall 9.3 per cent contraction seen in the total US apparel import market. During this same period, Vietnam further consolidated its standing as a leading supplier to US market.
On the global stage, China remains the top garment exporter, even as total trade volumes saw a slight decrease. Following Bangladesh in the global rankings are Vietnam in third place, India in fourth, and Turkey in fifth.
