Falling work orders from the US is creating fear in the minds of Bangladesh RMG makers. Fazlul Haque, Former President, BKMEA says, buyers are taking all types of work orders but in less quantity. He expects business to take time to bounce back in the wake of spike in coronavirus infections. Buyers may take decision based on forecast for next 6-7 months, Haque said. If Covid-19 situation doesn’t improve quickly, RMG export may experience downtrend. Although buyers haven’t given any such massage as yet, he added

Global export of apparel products to the US fell by one-fourth in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic battered the country more than any other parts of the world. Apparel export to the US rose slightly in the first two months of 2021 after the coronavirus situation slightly improved.

Bangladesh also gained from it, but fear looms large again over the export of apparel products to the US market because of new spike in coronavirus infections. As per OTEXA reports, US buyers imported apparel products worth $64.07 billion (6,407 crore) in 2020. US import of apparel products dropped by 13.85 per cent to $10.91 billion (1,091 crore) in the first two months of 2021.

Bangladesh’s export of apparel products to US dropped by 13.11 per cent to $1 billon (100 crore) equal to Tk 85 billion (8500 crore) in the first two months of 2021. Bangladesh is the third largest apparel exporter to the US market after China and Vietnam.

Vietnam’s export to the US dropped by 12.9 per cent to $2.09 billion (209 crore) in January-February of 2021. Vietnam exported apparel products worth $2.34 billion (234 crore) in the corresponding period of 2020. India and Indonesia also saw downtrend in their apparel export to the US. India’s export of apparel products to the US dropped by 21.89 per cent to $590 million (59 crore) in January-February of 2021.