Bangladesh Apparel Exports To US Jump 25% In H1 2025, Outpacing Global Growth
Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the United States surged 25.13% in the first half of 2025, reaching US$ 4.25 billion, up from US$ 3.39 billion in the same period last year. The country also shipped 1.37 billion square meters of garments, marking a 23.81% increase in volume.
The data, released by the US Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), shows that Bangladesh outperformed the global average apparel import growth rate of 6.76%, reinforcing its position as one of the top suppliers to the US.
Vietnam led the US apparel import market in H1 2025 with exports worth US$ 7.76 billion (up 18%), overtaking China, which slipped to second place with US$ 5.72 billion, reflecting a 16.14% decline amid heightened tariffs and trade tensions.
The strong showing by Bangladesh was partly driven by early shipments made before a new US tariff hike. A flat 35% duty on Bangladeshi exports was announced in July but was later reduced to 20% effective August 1. Exporters who met the July 31 deadline for deliveries benefited from earlier lower rates, accelerating outbound shipments.
With orders shifting from China, Bangladesh’s competitiveness has improved, especially with the current tariff rate more favorable than India’s 25%. Industry players are now seeking supportive policies to maintain momentum, expand MMF-based production, and invest in automation, innovation, and infrastructure.
