Slump in garment exports to the United States
Collected Photo
Although overall ready-made garment imports to the U.S. market declined, apparel imports from Bangladesh rose by 11.15 percent in August. However, during the first eight months of this year (January–August), garment imports from Bangladesh dropped by 4.43 percent.
During the same period, the average unit price of Bangladeshi garments also fell by 1.73 percent. This data was revealed in the latest statistics released by the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), under the U.S. Department of Commerce.
According to OTEXA data, global apparel imports by the U.S. from January to August 2026 fell by 7.42 percent compared to the same period last year, totaling $49.08 billion. Over the same timeframe, the total volume of garment imports decreased by 8.98 percent. However, the average unit price of imported apparel overall rose by 1.71 percent.
According to Mohiuddin Rubel, CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice, intense competition in the international market is being driven by a reduction in total U.S. imports alongside falling unit prices from major supplying countries. Under these circumstances, he noted that beyond remaining price-competitive, expanding product diversity, improving production efficiency, and boosting manufacturing capabilities for high-value garments will be crucial for Bangladesh to sustain its export growth.
