Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, Director, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), says Bangladesh is losing its competitiveness in apparel exports to US to rivals China and Vietnam. During the four months of 2021, US apparel imports from top five destinations including China, Cambodia and Vietnam increased 19.86 per cent to reach $4.66 billion.

As per OTEXA stats, US’ apparel imports from China grew 19.86 per cent during January-April 2021 to reach $4.66 billion. Imports from Cambodia and Vietnam also grew by 8.91 per cent and 8.56 per cent respectively year on year during the period. Vietnam exported apparels worth $4.55 billion to the US from January to April 2021 while Cambodia exported apparels worth $1.02 billion. On the other hand, Bangladesh exported apparels worth $ 1.99 billion during the period under review, a 3.71 per cent decline from $2.07 billion worth of apparels exported during the same period of 2020.

During the first four months of this year, Bangladesh shipped 796.22 million sq. mt. of apparel items, as against 748 million sq. mt. in the corresponding period last year. The country’s exports to the US valued $5.22 billion in 2020, against $5.92 billion in 2019. China is more competitive in terms of man-made or artificial fiber while buyers shifted to Vietnam as it could offer competitive prices of apparel items, says Faruque Hassan, President, BGMEA. Buyers are placing orders or sourcing from the destinations that are able to offer competitive or lower prices, he added.

On the other hand, Bangladesh has failed to retain the work orders followed by price hike by spinners, Hassan alleges.