Cotton dress exports to USA rise over $1b in 2021

Cotton apparel exports to the USA have been increasing over the years. It rose to $1.38 billion in the 2021 calendar year and grabbed 13.41 percent of the market even during the restriction on transportation over Omicron spread.

According to the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) , an affiliate of the US Department of Commerce, import of cotton apparel was worth $5.26 billion in 2021 and achieved 35.53 percent growth.

In 2019, the export was worth $4.52 billion and $3.88 billion in 2020, marking a rising trend in the $39.30-billion market.

However, Bangladesh’s peer countries Vietnam exported $6.18 billion cotton dress to the USA in ‘21, China $6.03 billion, India $3.23 billion and Pakistan $1.98 billion, respectively. 

The industry insiders are rejoicing huge amounts of the work orders from the newer markets along with the traditional ones. They pledged to uphold the product quality and Bangladesh’s business reputation.  

“Bangladesh is famous for cotton dresses in the US market. There are various indicators leading to the increased home shipment to the USA. But, the most praise-worthy issue is that demand for ‘Made in Bangladesh’ is expanding in the world market,” said Shofiqur Rahman, Head of Marketing of Zaber and Zubair Fabrics Limited, a sister concern of Noman group.

He told the Business Insider Bangladesh that the USA is an old and major business partner of Bangladesh. Except for product quality, only relationships will not work in international trading.

“I like to say that the buyers are interested because of our world class quality products. Besides, more than 90 percent of the cutting and sewing segment of the factories are fully automated. And, it is enhancing the finishing quality of our products,” he pointed out.

“Bangladesh is a reliable source of ready to wear dresses, therefore, export has been increasing through all the windows even during pandemic. We are branding the “made in Bangladesh,” that I think is working well,” said Muhammad Hatem, Executive President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).

According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the country fetched $35.8 billion from the global market in 2021 calendar year.

However, Bangladesh primarily exports trousers, shirts, skirts, blouses, underwear and sweaters to the world markets.   

The country recorded exports worth $4.85 billion in January, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) figures show.