Bangladesh holds 3rd rank in US apparel imports as China's share drops

The trade and geopolitical tensions between the US and China negatively impacted China's share in apparel imports by the world's largest economy. 

Imports from Bangladesh rose to $4.148 billion in January-May 2022, up from $2.591 billion in January-May 2021. Earlier, It was noted at $2.244 billion in the same period of 2020 and $2.537 billion in 2019. Although the imports eased to $3.244 billion in corresponding period of 2023. Bangladesh retained third place, holding a 9.88 per cent market share in apparel supplies this year. China and Vietnam remained the first and second largest suppliers, with market shares of 18.98 per cent and 16.87 per cent, respectively, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro. 

In January-May 2019, imports from Bangladesh were valued at $2.537 billion, which made up 7.37 per cent of the total imports of $34.436 billion. At that time, China's share stood at 27.92 per cent with a net supply of $9.614 billion, while the second-largest supplier, Vietnam, accounted for $5.409 billion, or 15.71 per cent of the total. 

Over the last four years, China's market share in US apparel imports has decreased from 27.92 per cent to 18.98 per cent. In contrast, Bangladesh and Vietnam have successfully increased their market shares by 2.51 per cent and 1.16 per cent, respectively, as per TexPro.

In 2022, imports from Bangladesh totalled $9.809 billion, constituting 9.32 per cent of the total imports of $105.220 billion. During the same period, inbound shipments from China and Vietnam stood at $23.647 billion (22.47 per cent) and $18.861 billion (17.93 per cent), respectively. 

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)