Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) exports to the United States, its single largest market, recorded a marginal decline in January as overall American apparel imports contracted sharply, reflecting subdued retail demand and shifting sourcing patterns.

Data released on March 17 by the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) showed that Bangladesh earned $791.77 million from garment exports to the US in January 2026, marking a 0.90 per cent year-on-year fall.

The figure compares with $799 million in January 2025 and US$547.95 million in January 2024.

In volume terms, however, shipments rose slightly.

Bangladesh exported 264.04 million square metres of apparel to the US market in January, up 1.18 per cent from 261.29 million square metres a year earlier.

Exports stood at 175.11 million square metres in January 2024.

Industry analysts cautioned that the January 2025 data represented an unusually high base, as US importers had front-loaded orders ahead of tariff increases under the administration of Donald Trump.

They also noted that January 2024 was comparatively weak, making year-on-year comparisons less indicative of underlying trends.

Overall US apparel imports fell by 13.51 per cent year-on-year to $6.22 billion in January 2026, underlining the scale of demand contraction in the world’s largest consumer market.

Despite the downturn, Bangladesh’s export performance over recent years shows volatility. RMG exports to the US stood at $8.20 billion in 2025, up from $7.34 billion in 2024 and $7.28 billion in 2023, while reaching a peak of $9.73 billion in 2022.

Meanwhile, Vietnam emerged as the leading apparel exporter to the US in January, posting 3.01 per cent growth to $1.48 billion, with shipment volumes rising by 3.72 per cent to 415.22 million square metres.

China, by contrast, recorded a sharp 62.32 per cent decline in export value to $603.92 million, alongside a 51.23 per cent drop in volume to 419.63 million square metres.

India’s exports to the US fell by 18.30 per cent to $385.41 million, with shipment volumes declining by 15.37 per cent.

Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said persistent uncertainty, including new US tariff regimes, has dampened demand across major sourcing countries.

Inamul Haq Khan, vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said that high inflation in both the US and Europe has eroded consumers’ purchasing power, forcing them to prioritise essential goods over apparel.

A recent study by Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) found that Bangladeshi exporters receive around 10 per cent lower prices for garments shipped to the US compared with the European Union, highlighting persistent pricing challenges in the American market.

With demand remaining weak and global uncertainties unresolved, exporters expect continued pressure on Bangladesh’s apparel shipments to the US in the coming months.