With export orders getting diverted to Bangladesh from China and Vietnam due to the ongoing tension between the two, a vista of new opportunities have opened up for Bangladesh denim makers. A rise in demand has forced industry players to think of increasing their production capacity and upgradation.
Bangladesh is the second largest producer of denim products after China and ships around 180 million pieces of denim jeans around the world annually. The country has more than 5,000 factories concentrated around Dhaka and the port city of Chittagong. Players claim that although other apparel segments are facing trouble due to factory compliance issues, denim makers are expected to score owing to a good price range and quality. Bangladesh is expected to fast replace China as the world's biggest denim exporter. The demand for denim goods is increasing, and the European Union (EU), the US and Russia are becoming top denim importing nations.
As per Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), due to better quality and a competitive price range, more than 66 international brands including Charles Voegele, G-Star, Jack and Jones, Oliver, River Island, H&M, C&A, PVH and GAP have turned to Bangladesh in the last couple of years. In last 10 months, the country's garment makers exported nearly 150 million pairs of denim jeans in men's and boys’ category.
