Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the US declined by 8 per cent during the January-March 2021, shows data released by Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA). OTEXA data reveals, US apparel imports declined 2.46 per cent during the January-March 2021 period to $17.41 billion. China and Vietnam emerged as the largest exporters to the US with a growth of 12.69 per cent and 1.40 per cent respectively in the January-March period in 2021. While, Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the US declined by over 8.0 per cent during the first quarter of 2021 year-on-year, showing a much slower recovery compared to China and Vietnam.

Bangladesh exported $ 1.53 billion worth of apparels in the January-March period of 2021, down from $1.67 billion during the same period of 2020. During the first three months of this year, Bangladesh RMG exports increased to 608.97 million sq. mt. from 603.11 million sq. mt in the corresponding period last year. RMG exporters, however, related slow demand in the US followed by higher COVID-19 infection rates and the change in sales pattern, to the pitiable performance of apparel export to its major destination.

Faruque Hassan, President, BGMEA said, Bangladesh shipped mostly woven items to the US, adding that demands for woven items were also declining as people largely stayed at home. He hoped that Bangladesh’s exports to the US would increase from October onwards with the improving US economy after the country’s good coverage of the COVID-19 vaccination.