Bangladesh's readymade garment exports to the United States declined by 11.24 per cent to $2.65 billion in January–April of 2026 from $2.98 billion in the same period of 2025, according to the latest data published by the Office of Textiles and Apparel.
The RMG export to the US, Bangladesh›s single largest export destination, also plunged 17.21 per cent to $627 million in April 2026, down from $757.37 million in April last year.
During the period, growth rates of most major competing countries also declined, except for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, each of which recorded positive growth, suggesting uneven demand conditions in the US apparel market.
In the first four months of 2026, the North American country imported RMG items worth $23.08 billion from global sources, which was 12 per cent lower than the $26.22 billion imported in January–April 2025.
In terms of volume, Bangladesh›s RMG exports to the US in January–April of 2026 also declined by 9.01 per cent to 890.17 million square metre equivalents from 978.32 million SMEs in the same period of 2025, indicating that Bangladeshi exporters were receiving lower unit prices.
According to the Otexa data, the average unit price of Bangladeshi apparel items stood at $2.97 per SME in January–April 2026 — a decline of 2.46 per cent from $3.05 per SME in the same period of 2025.
The unit price of Bangladeshi RMG in the US market continued to trend downward, even as the global average edged up slightly to $3.15 per SME from $3.12 per SME a year ago.
Bangladesh’s market share in the US apparel market stood at 10.53 per cent.
By cumulative export value in January–April 2026, Bangladesh maintained its position as the second-largest apparel exporter to the US — ahead of China for the fourth consecutive month since first surpassing it in January of this year.
In terms of rolling market share, Bangladesh remained third behind China.
Vietnam retained its position as the largest apparel exporter to the US in January–April of 2026, exporting items worth $5.16 billion, up 1.31 per cent from $5.09 billion in the same period of 2025, and commanding a market share of 22.47 per cent, according to the Otexa data.
US apparel imports from China plunged 50.21 per cent to $2.17 billion in January–April 2026 from $4.37 billion in the same period of 2025, with China›s market share declining to 11.30 per cent.
Indonesia placed fourth by value, with exports of $1.64 billion in January–April 2026, up 2.27 per cent from $1.60 billion in the same period of 2025.
US apparel imports from India declined sharply by 28.03 per cent to $1.44 billion in the first four months of 2026, while imports from Cambodia surged 14.07 per cent to $1.40 billion, placing them fifth and sixth by value respectively.
Imports from Mexico declined 8.11 per cent to $777.25 million, from Pakistan by 12.18 per cent to $658.37 million, and from Honduras by 12.92 per cent to $560.06 million.
Mohiuddin Rubel, former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that the US imports from global sources declined, which also impacted Bangladesh’s exports.
He also said Bangladesh should focus on value-added products, diversified destinations, and robust research, development, and innovation to align with demand.
He also said that if the ongoing Middle East crisis is not resolved, exports would decline further.
According to the Otexa data, Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the US in 2025 reached $8.2 billion, which was $7.34 billion in 2024.
