Apparel exports remain stuck in basic products

Bangladesh’s apparel industry has built its global position largely on basic garments, but its export basket remains heavily concentrated in low-value products, leaving significant room for diversification into higher-value and technology-intensive segments.

An analysis by the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAV), based on 2025 calendar-year data from the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), shows that 76.94 per cent of Bangladesh’s apparel exports were basic products, compared with 61.58 per cent globally.

Bangladesh exported apparel worth $38.825 billion in 2025, while global apparel exports stood at around $426 billion.

The concentration is particularly visible in some major product categories. Bottomwear accounted for 33.68pc of Bangladesh’s apparel exports, compared with 21.68pc of global exports. T-shirts and vests made up another 18.64pc of Bangladesh’s exports, against 10.09pc globally.

By contrast, Bangladesh has a much smaller presence in several higher-value segments.

Outerwear accounted for only 3.83pc of the country’s apparel exports, compared with 13.45pc globally. Accessories, gloves and hosiery represented just 0.35pc of Bangladesh’s exports, against 7.52pc globally. Overall, outerwear, dresses, technical wear, sportswear and suits together accounted for only 9.35pc of Bangladesh’s apparel exports, compared with 30.46pc globally.

The figures underline the challenge facing the sector as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from the least developed country (LDC) category and faces rising production costs, tougher competition and possible changes in trade preferences.

BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said the industry needs to focus not only on increasing export volume but also on moving towards higher-value products and transforming the structure of exports.

Industry leaders also see man-made fibre (MMF), synthetic and functional apparel as key areas for future growth.

BGMEA Senior Vice-President Inamul Haque Khan (Bablu) said around 75pc of textile and apparel products globally are now non-cotton, whereas non-cotton products account for only around 27pc of Bangladesh's apparel exports.

He said greater attention should therefore be given to MMF and other products that are increasingly important in the global market.

Prof Mustafizur Rahman said Bangladesh needs greater diversification into high-value non-cotton products, technology-intensive apparel and new fashion segments to strengthen the industry's competitiveness.
Experts also stressed the need for greater investment in product design, research and development, skilled workers, quality control and modern production technology.

They said developing a stronger domestic supply chain for MMF and other advanced materials would also be important for supporting diversification.

The BAV analysis also identified discrepancies in Bangladesh's apparel export data. It found a 3.38pc discrepancy, equivalent to around $1.313 billion, between EPB data based on two-digit and six-digit Harmonised System (HS) codes. The corresponding discrepancy in global data was only 0.59pc.

The findings suggest that Bangladesh's apparel industry has achieved considerable export scale but remains concentrated in a relatively narrow range of products. Expanding into more sophisticated segments, industry stakeholders said, will be increasingly important for sustaining growth and competitiveness in the changing global market.