Exporters attribute a number of domestic issues like the high cost of doing business and a lack of diversification to their loss of export share in the US market.
Bangladesh’s main rivals China and Vietnam, however, witnessed a positive trend.
China's apparel exports to the United States grew by 0.48 per cent YoY in value and 14.94 per cent YoY in volume during the first two months this year. Vietnam's apparel exports to the US in the two months also increased by 0.14 per cent YoY in value and by 8.81 per cent YoY in volume.
However, overall US apparel imports during the period dropped by 7.78 per cent to $12.18 billion.
Apparel work orders are slow and exporters are struggling to meet lead times for current orders due to a severe gas crisis, a financial newspaper in Bangladesh reported.
The United States’ apparel imports from Cambodia in the two-month period increased as well by 15.34 per cent YoY to $545.20 million. India's apparel exports to the US market during that period fell by 13.75 per cent YoY to $759.48 million.
US apparel imports from Indonesia in the first two months this year decreased by 17.25 per cent YoY to $660.35 million.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)