Bangladesh’s dominance in the US denim markets strengthened
Jannatul Ferdushy || BusinessInsider
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Bangladesh has retained its position as the top blue denim exporter to the United States with a massive 47.26 percent increase in the first quarter of 2022.
In the last two years, Bangladesh has established its dominance in the US market in exporting blue denim as the apparel produced in the country is often considered the best in the globe.
In January-March, Bangladesh fetched its highest $196.25 million from this export to the US, followed by Mexico with $169 million, Pakistan with $116 million, Vietnam with $107 million, and China with $90 million, according to the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), USA, data released on May 4.
China, the top overall apparel exporter to the US with a 29 percent market share, managed to post a 25 percent growth in exporting blue denim during the period.
Industry insiders say blue denim is the biggest brand for the country as buyers of “Made in Bangladesh” now consider it an elite product of high quality.
“The readymade garments sector is gaining momentum after the Covid-19 shock,” Mohiuddin Rubel, managing director of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE), told the Business Insider Bangladesh.
Besides, the ongoing cold relationship between China and America is aiding Bangladesh to increase exports to the US, he said.
The number of work orders diverted from China and Vietnam to Bangladesh is also helping as both those countries are still reeling in Covid shock, he added.
Shofiqur Rahman, head of marketing of Zaber and Zubair Fabrics Limited said there are many variables that come into play for such prominence of Bangladeshi denim in the US. “However, the demand for 'Made in Bangladesh' apparel is the key driver”.
Bangladesh’s denim export brought $133.27 million in the first quarter of 2022. The total denim export in 2021 was worth $798 million.
During ten months of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh fetched $35.42 billion from the international market exporting trousers, denim, T-shirt, sweater, blouse, underwear etc.
