Bangladesh's garment exports to the US rebounded in May

The downward trend in Bangladesh's ready-made garment exports to the US market since the beginning of the year changed somewhat in May. Bangladesh's garment exports to the country increased by 6.04 percent to $582 million in the month compared to the same period last year.

According to data from the US Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), Bangladesh exported garments worth about $3.25 billion to the US in the five months from January to May 2026. This income is about 8 percent less than the same period last year. However, the positive growth in May creates the possibility of a market recovery in the coming months.

Not only Bangladesh, but also the overall garment imports from the US have decreased during the period under discussion. The country's total garment import value between January and May decreased by 9.25 percent to $28.78 billion. Import volume decreased by 9.48 percent. However, the average unit price increased slightly.

Industry stakeholders believe that this pressure has been created in the US apparel market due to weak global demand, reduced consumer spending and uncertainty in international trade. A large part of Bangladesh's total export earnings comes from the ready-made garment sector, as a result, fluctuations in an important market like the US have a direct impact on the country's exports and employment.

China has suffered the biggest blow among competing countries. In five months, China's apparel export value to the US has decreased by 42.75 percent and volume by 29.67 percent. India's export value has also decreased by 26.37 percent.

On the other hand, Cambodia is in a relatively good position. From January to May, the country's apparel export earnings to the US have increased by 14.90 percent. This indicates that US buyers are increasing their procurement of apparel from new manufacturing countries beyond traditional sources.

Mohiuddin Rubel, CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice, said that weak demand in the global market and pressure on product prices are major obstacles to Bangladesh's apparel exports. At the same time, high interest rates on bank loans, uncertainty in fuel supply, long lead times and infrastructure constraints are increasing production costs.

According to industry stakeholders, ensuring uninterrupted fuel, increasing port capacity, fast transportation of goods and arranging financing on easy terms can further strengthen Bangladesh's competitive position in the US market.

Although the growth in May is seen as a positive signal, it is not possible to determine the picture of the entire year with the results of one month. Whether this trend of exports continues in the next few months or not is now the important issue for the garment industry.