Japan is rapidly emerging as a significant destination for Bangladesh’s garment exports, offering both stability and potential in an increasingly diversified global trade landscape.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh exported $1.18 billion worth of apparel products to Japan in fiscal year 2024-25, making Japan the top non-traditional export market for the country’s garment sector.
Besides, this marks a 15.61 percent year-on-year growth, reflecting strong demand and rising confidence in Bangladeshi apparel among Japanese buyers.
The momentum in the Japanese market coincides with broader trends. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the non-traditional market grew by 10.44 percent in FY25, totalling $1.15 billion, with a 16.11 percent market share.
Despite the positive trajectory, Japan still represents untapped potential for Bangladesh. Data from the International Trade Center (ITC) shows that Japan imported $22.86 billion worth of apparel in 2024 from global sources. Of that, only $1.26 billion, or just 5.50 percent, came from Bangladesh.
“This gap highlights the massive opportunity that remains unexploited,” said Mohiuddin Rubel, Managing Director of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange and a former BGMEA director.
“Japan is a fashion-forward, quality-conscious market with strong purchasing power. It’s not just about selling more, it’s about competing on value, design and quality,” he said.
Emphasising on the need for Bangladesh to recalibrate its export strategies, Rubel said that diversifying beyond Europe and the US is no longer just an option, it is a necessity.
“Japan, with its preference for both high-fashion and fast-fashion, coupled with premium pricing and quality demands, is exactly the kind of market we must target more aggressively,” he added.
Industry insiders said that Japanese buyers tend to prioritise sustainable practices, precision in detailing, and long-term business relationships – areas where Bangladesh’s garment sector has been making notable strides in recent years.
Currently, more than 50 Bangladeshi apparel manufacturers have export exposure to Japan, producing products such as outerwear, loungewear, denim, and knitwear. Industry associations have called for trade facilitation measures, improved logistics, and branding initiatives to scale up Bangladesh’s presence in the Japanese market.
With growing global economic uncertainties and price pressures in traditional Western markets, Japan offers a compelling alternative – stable demand, high value per unit, and long-term partnership potential.
As Bangladesh looks to reach its long-term export targets and strengthen resilience in its garments sector, deepening engagement with the Japanese market could be one of the smartest strategic moves forward.
