Bangladesh’s garment exports to India, China and Japan grew 17.79 per cent year-on-year in the July-May period of the current fiscal year. Japan is the largest export destination for Bangladesh among Asian nations. In the July-May period, Bangladesh’s garment exports to Japan rose 13.04 per cent year-on-year. Major Japanese retailers are increasing their footprint in Bangladesh for formal garments like woven shirts and T-shirts and bed sheets.

Garment shipments to India from Bangladesh more than doubled year-on-year in the first 11 months of the fiscal year. The reason for the exponential rise is bulk purchase by western brands with operations in India and Indian clothing chains, which are finding Bangladesh’s garments to be more competitively priced for India's middle-class demographic.

Overall exports to India increased 24.67 per cent year-on-year in the July-May period. The demand for formal wear in India is high due to the growing middle-income office-going population. The three per cent stimulus given to Bangladesh’s exporters also acts positively for higher growth to India and other new destinations.

China itself is becoming a major garment export destination for Bangladesh. Moreover, China is a densely populated country. So, having a large consumer base, China is turning into a major garment export market for Bangladesh.