Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) exports to the United States, its largest market, recorded an impressive 18.64% growth in the first nine months of 2025 (January to September), fetching $6.42 billion.
This growth rate surpassed the global average of 1.74% and was the highest among major competitors, positioning Bangladesh ahead of rivals except Cambodia in growth terms.
The increase was noted in both value and volume (2.07 billion square meters, a 19% rise) according to data released by the US Department of Commerce affiliate, OTEXA.
Despite the strong performance, exporters express caution regarding the impact of US reciprocal tariffs imposed starting August 7, 2025. BKMEA Executive President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan noted that the September OTEXA data reflects shipments made months prior, and the "real picture of US tariff impact" will only be evident in the next two months' data. EPB data already suggests an overall downtrend in RMG exports since August 2025.
Ehsan remains optimistic, anticipating that a stable political situation following the national election could maintain buyer confidence and help Bangladesh secure a higher volume of shifted work orders, especially from China due to high US tariffs there.
However, he noted that Bangladesh faces challenges in the EU market, where China is aggressively increasing its share by offering lower prices to offset its US market decline.
