Bangladesh has turned its focus towards India for importing man-made fibre yarn and fabric instead of China.

Competitive pricing, improved lead time with the opening of two new land ports, and growing global demand for this key raw material for apparel have contributed to this shift in focus. The United States' anti-China stance may have also played a role in Bangladesh's shift towards India for man-made fibre.

According to industry stakeholders, the move towards alternative sources for raw materials will help support the growth of the man-made fibre industry in Bangladesh and reduce dependence on China. The Bangladesh government's decision to allow the import of man-made yarn and fabric through Benapole and two other new land ports has also facilitated this shift.

The global market for man-made fibre clothing is steadily increasing while demand for cotton made clothing is decreasing. However, Bangladesh's reliance on cotton-based apparel exports accounts for 72%, while man-made fibre apparel accounts for 24%. According to a research report by Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID), the apparel market for man-made fibre will continue to grow larger than that of cotton in the coming years.

While local textile mills supply about 65 per cent of Bangladesh's cotton-based garments, according to RAPID's calculations, man-made fibres account for only 15 per cent. However, industry experts feel that this share will decrease as demand for man-made fibre increases.

BGMEA believes that imports from India will likely double in the next five years but emphasizes on increasing local capacity