Bangladesh Garment Exports Climb to Number Two in US Market

Bangladesh garment exports have overtaken China to become the second-largest source of apparel for the United States. Vietnam now holds the top spot, with Bangladesh close behind.

The shift underlines the resilience of the country’s ready-made garment sector. The United States takes roughly a fifth of Bangladesh’s total apparel shipments.

What is driving Bangladesh garment exports

Bangladesh garment exports rebounded strongly over the summer. Merchandise exports rose 13.14% year on year in August to $4.43 billion, with garments up 13.92% to $3.89 billion.

The recovery followed a soft start to the year. Between January and May, shipments to the US had fallen about 8% against the same period in 2025.

Trade policy helped steady frayed nerves. The US-Bangladesh reciprocal trade agreement, signed in February, fixed a 19% surcharge and opened a zero-tariff path for garments using verified US cotton and man-made fibres.

Factory owners remain cautious all the same. Global demand is uneven, and buyers continue to press hard on prices and lead times.

The stakes are national. Garments account for the bulk of export earnings and employ millions of workers, many of them women.

The sector’s exposure to global politics is well documented, as our report on shifting foreign ties showed. Trade and diplomacy now move together.

For an economy navigating a political transition before February’s election, the export data offers a rare piece of good news.

Fact basis: The Daily Star, Daily Sun and PolyesterTime reports, 7 September 2026; US import data. Verified across two sources.