Bangladesh Apparel Exports to US Slump Amid Tariff Pressures 📉

The Bangladeshi apparel & textiles sector is facing a significant downturn in its largest market, the US, driven by reciprocal tariff policies, shifting buyer behavior, and domestic instability. This decline contrasts with gains made by regional competitors. • Performance Summary (Jan–Mar 2026) • Total Export Value: US$ 2.04 Bn (down 8.38% YoY). • March 2026 Performance: US$ 664.9 Mn (down 8.08% YoY). • Export Volume: 232.7 Mn pieces in March (down 5.46% YoY). • Price & Market Trends • Unit Price: Dropped 2.77% to US$ 2.86 per piece in March, reflecting increased pressure from US buyers. • Order Shifts: Global buyers are pivoting from large-scale orders to smaller, short-term commitments. • Total US Apparel Imports: Overall US demand fell 11.63% YoY to US$ 17.73 Bn for Q1 2026. • Regional Comparison • Vietnam: Maintained stability with a 2.77% growth in Q1. • Cambodia: Strong performance with a 17.60% surge in Q1. • India & China: Both faced sharp declines of over 27% and 52% respectively. • Strategic Outlook Stakeholders emphasize that Bangladesh must diversify into high-value fashion and technical textiles to maintain long-term competitiveness. Current challenges include energy crises, high interest rates, and US retaliatory tariffs.