Written by The Banking Post
Bangladesh’s apparel shipments to the United States surged 21.68 percent in the first seven months of 2025, defying tariff uncertainties and placing the country ahead of key rivals in export growth.
According to data released Tuesday by OTEXA, a wing of the US Department of Commerce, exports fetched $4.98 billion during January–July, up from $4.09 billion a year earlier. Shipment volumes also rose 20.34 percent to 1.59 billion square meters.
The growth outpaced the global average of 4.98 percent. Vietnam retained the top spot with $9.45 billion in exports, while China’s shipments plunged 21 percent to $6.92 billion amid renewed US tariffs.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan called the performance “good” and expected momentum to continue after October, though he noted some buyers delayed orders due to tariff uncertainties. Many exporters also rushed shipments ahead of the July 31 deadline to avoid higher duties.
US President Donald Trump initially imposed a flat 35 percent tariff on Bangladeshi exports from July 7, later reduced to 20 percent on August 1 after negotiations.
Meanwhile, regional competitors also posted gains: India’s exports rose 16.1 percent to $3.3 billion, Indonesia 16.8 percent to $2.66 billion, Cambodia 24.5 percent to $2.37 billion, and Pakistan 11.8 percent to $1.34 billion.
Industry insiders say Bangladesh’s prospects remain strong as shifting supply chains and reduced Chinese dominance create new opportunities in the US market.
