A new wave of COVID cases, especially along the Indian border, has prompted the Bangladesh government to shutdown its garment factories.

As per a new analysis from Panjiva, a business line of S&P Global Market Intelligence, this marks a stark reversal from a trend spotted earlier on in the pandemic. Then, Bangladeshi apparel manufacturers suffered from orders being canceled by retailers in Europe and the Americas, where COVID restrictions were much tighter.

Still, Panjiva’s data show Bangladeshi exporters of apparel to the United States have been more resilient than nearby regions during the pandemic. Shipments in the three months ended April 30 are down by just 1.6 per cent, compared with the same period of 2019, the firm said. Exporters from India and Sri Lanka, in contrast, dropped 10.1 per cent and 6.4 per cent, respectively.

Among the major retail brands with a presence in Bangladesh, shipments linked to H&M increased 13.5 per cent in the three-months ended May 31, compared with the same period of 2019, Panjiva found. While imports associated with Levi’s fell 47.8 per cent, and those with Calvin Klein-owner PVH dropped 68.7 per cent.

According to a September analysis of US International Trade Commission data by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Bangladesh has been gaining market share as China has become less competitive in labor-intensive sectors including apparel.

However, the additional supply chain disruptions are likely to hit retail companies. A shortage of shipping containers and a dearth of truck drivers have already left inventory backlogged for weeks.