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Garment exports to the USA, the country’s largest single export destination, increased by 5.14 percent to $2.59 billion during July-October, despite facing a 20 percent reciprocal tariff imposed by the US under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The USA accounted for 19.92 percent of Bangladesh’s total garment exports during this period, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) compiled by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Local exporters face a 35.5 percent duty on shipments to the USA, which includes the 20 percent reciprocal tariff and the previous 15.5 percent Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff.
Bangladesh’s 20 percent reciprocal tariff rate gave local exporters a competitive advantage over other garment-exporting nations, which face slightly higher tariffs.
Ramzul Seraj, managing director of Elite Group, said that although his company’s shipments to the USA were slow in August and October, the inflow of work orders from US-bound retailers and brands started increasing in November.
“The uncertainty is over now, as the tariff rate for Bangladesh is fixed lower compared with a few other countries. I hope the inflow of work orders from US buyers will also increase in the near future,” Seraj told The Daily Star over the phone.
Former BGMEA president Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) said exports picked up slightly in October as US buyers received previously held-up work orders from Bangladesh due to reciprocal tariff negotiations.
He added that exports of garments to the USA depend on many factors, as sales of garment items to the US have also declined slightly.
Moreover, the lowering of tariffs by the Trump administration on Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia could affect Bangladesh’s shipments to the American market in the near future.
Apart from the USA, the European Union (EU) remains Bangladesh’s largest export destination for RMG, accounting for 48.17 percent of total exports in this category. Export earnings from the EU stood at $6.26 billion, registering year-on-year growth of 0.46 percent.
Exports to Canada and the United Kingdom also showed positive momentum. Exports to Canada reached $442.27 million, up 10.84 percent year-on-year, giving the country a 3.4 percent share of Bangladeshi garment exports.
Apparel exports to the UK were $1.53 billion, growing 2.72 percent year-on-year, with an 11.81 percent share.
While traditional markets maintained stable demand, RMG exports to non-traditional (emerging) markets fell by 2.69 percent during the period.
The knitwear segment grew modestly by 0.42 percent, showing stable performance, while the woven segment performed better with a 2.66 percent increase in exports.
Overall, RMG exports from Bangladesh reached $12.99 billion from July to October of FY 2025-26, up 1.40 percent compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year.
পলাতক দণ্ডিত আসামি শেখ হাসিনা ও আসাদুজ্জামান খান কামালকে ভারত থেকে ফিরিয়ে আনতে ঢাকা আনুষ্ঠানিকভাবে নয়াদিল্লির কাছে চিঠি পাঠাবে বলে জানিয়েছেন পররাষ্ট্র উপদেষ্টা মো. তৌহিদ হোসেন।