Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the United States grew by 21.68 percent in the first seven months of 2025, despite tariff uncertainties under the Trump administration, according to fresh data from the US Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA).

Exports during January–July amounted to US$4.98 billion, up from US$4.09 billion in the same period last year. In volume terms, shipments rose 20.34 percent to 1.59 billion square meters.

The growth rate outpaced the global average of 4.98 percent, keeping Bangladesh ahead of key competitors, though Vietnam retained the top spot with US$9.45 billion in shipments. China slipped to second with US$6.92 billion, down 21.07 percent year-on-year, as renewed tariffs and geopolitical tensions reshaped trade flows.

The US imported US$45.79 billion worth of apparel overall during the period, up from US$43.62 billion a year earlier, reflecting stronger consumer demand and supply-chain shifts away from China.

Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), called the growth “good” and said it was likely to continue later this year, though August and September may see slower momentum as some buyers delayed orders over tariff uncertainty. He noted that many exporters rushed shipments before the July 31 deadline to avoid enhanced tariffs.

On July 7, President Trump announced a flat 35-percent tariff on Bangladeshi exports, later revised to 20 percent effective August 1 after negotiations. A grace period allowed shipments cleared before July 31 to enter under the old rate, triggering a surge in exports.

Among other competitors, India’s exports to the US rose 16.10 percent to US$3.30 billion, Indonesia’s grew 16.82 percent to US$2.66 billion, Cambodia’s jumped 24.45 percent to US$2.37 billion, and Pakistan’s increased 11.82 percent to US$1.34 billion.