As manufacturers become more mindful of the quality of their apparel, exports from Bangladesh to the USA have risen by more than 49 percent (year-on-year) to $5.08 bn during the July-January period of 2021-’22 fiscal year. According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the country’s apparel shipment during the corresponding period of the earlier fiscal was $3.40 bn. The industry insiders attributed the abrupt rise of Bangladesh’s exports into the US market to improved product quality, importers’ faith in Bangladeshi apparel manufacturers, and the Sino-US trade conflict.
“Bangladesh has been famed for her cotton dresses in the USA. There are various reasons for rising exports to the USA. But the most praiseworthy issue that makes the home stakeholders happy is that demand for ‘Made in Bangladesh’ brand is increasing globally,” Shofiqur Rahman, Head of Marketing of Zaber and Zubair Fabrics Limited, a sister concern of Noman Group, told.
Moreover, the USA is an old and trusted trade partner of Bangladesh. “If you don’t have good quality products, mere relationships don’t work in the export market. The point here is that the buyers are interested in us because we are sewing world-class apparel,” he added.
“Bangladesh is a reliable source of the ready-to-wear garment; therefore, export has been increasing via all the windows even amid the Covid-19 pandemic. We have succeeded to brand ‘Made in Bangladesh’ and, I think it worked,” said Muhammad Hatem, Executive President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
“Bangladesh has improved her infrastructure substantially. It has been very fruitful as the country continues trading with the global partners,” said Asif Ashraf, Managing Director of Urmi Group.
In 2021 (CY), the USA imported $7.4 bn of apparel from Bangladesh. The country has become the highest denim exporter to the USA and the country shipped $798.42 mn worth of blue jeans to the American market, grabbing 21.69 percent of the US market share, the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), an affiliate of the US Department of Commerce, says.
During the last eight months of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh fetched $27.49 bn from the international market by exporting primarily trousers, T-shirts, sweaters, blouses, underwear etc.
