Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the United States rebounded strongly in August 2026, outperforming several major Asian suppliers, although shipments remained lower year-on-year over the first eight months of the year.

According to data released by the US Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), Bangladesh exported $734.6 million worth of apparel to the US in August, up 11.2 per cent from $660.9 million in the same month of 2025.

The August increase marked a sharp turnaround after Bangladesh recorded year-on-year declines in apparel shipments to the US for most months since January. Exports fell by as much as 17 per cent in both February and April, while the declines were 6 per cent in May and 5.6 per cent in June.

The rebound came amid mixed performances by other major Asian apparel suppliers to the US market.

China’s apparel exports to the US increased 2.3 per cent year-on-year to $1.07 billion in August from $1.05 billion a year earlier, while Vietnam recorded a marginal 1 per cent increase to $1.61 billion from $1.59 billion.

Vietnam therefore maintained its position as the largest apparel supplier among the countries compared, but its growth was significantly slower than Bangladesh’s in August.

Cambodia, meanwhile, saw its apparel exports to the US fall 7.8 per cent to $531.2 million from $576.4 million in August 2025.

India recorded the sharpest decline among the five major suppliers, with its apparel exports to the US plunging 31.5 per cent to $291.1 million from $424.8 million a year earlier.

The August data point to a clear divergence among major Asian apparel suppliers, with Bangladesh posting double-digit growth, China and Vietnam registering modest gains, and Cambodia and India suffering declines.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Mahmud Hasan Khan said uncertainty over tariffs was prompting US buyers to shift orders away from India, while similar shifts were taking place in Bangladesh’s favour in the US market.

“Because of the shifting of orders, Bangladesh is receiving orders from the US,” he said, attributing the August increase partly to the development.

Bangladesh’s apparel industry, however, continues to face challenges in its traditional European market.

Khan said Bangladesh was losing ground in the European Union market amid uncertainty surrounding the country’s graduation from the least developed country category and growing competition from India following the EU’s free trade agreement with the neighbouring country.

Despite the strong August performance, Bangladesh’s cumulative exports to the US remained below last year’s level.

During January-August 2026, Bangladesh exported about $5.39 billion worth of apparel to the US, down 4.17 per cent from approximately $5.62 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.

China recorded the steepest cumulative decline among the major suppliers during the period, with its apparel exports to the US falling by more than 29 per cent to about $5.63 billion.

The figures suggest that Bangladesh’s August rebound has yet to reverse the broader weakness in its US-bound apparel shipments this year, although the country has gained momentum at a time when several competing suppliers are also facing pressure in the key market.