Dhaka, 16 September 2026 (BSS) — Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) exports to the United States recorded their strongest monthly increase on record in August, rising 25.65 percent year‑on‑year, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
In August, Bangladesh’s garment exports to the United States reached more than $817 million in the 2026‑27 fiscal year, up from $650.34 million in the same month of the previous fiscal year. This marks an increase of roughly $166.66 million year‑on‑year.
In July‑August of fiscal year 2026‑27, Bangladesh’s ready‑made garment exports to the United States amounted to $1.61 billion, representing an 11.42 percent increase over the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Nevertheless, the stronger growth recorded in the first two months was primarily attributable to the robust performance in August, when garment exports to the United States rose by 25.65 percent.
The United States remains Bangladesh’s single largest market for ready‑made garments (RMG). In fiscal year 2025‑26, Bangladesh’s total merchandise exports to the United States amounted to roughly $9.04 billion, marking a 4.09 percent rise from the previous fiscal year.
Bangladesh’s non‑RMG exports to the United States comprise leather and leather goods, jute and jute products, home textiles, agricultural and processed food items, plastics and melamine products, textiles and yarn, pharmaceuticals, light‑engineering goods, footwear and other industrial products.
The Ministry of Commerce has designated pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, agricultural products, light engineering and information and communication technology as priority sectors for expanding trade with the United States.
Exporters see further growth potential in the United States, with orders for Bangladeshi apparel projected to rise in the coming months.
Mohammad Fazlul Hoque, a leading apparel entrepreneur and administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), told BSS that Bangladesh’s exports to the United States rose in August, coinciding with the deadline for placing orders for winter apparel.
He said that, despite a range of global crises, Bangladeshi entrepreneurs possess an inherent capacity to compete, which has allowed the country to boost its exports to the United States even under adverse conditions.
“If product diversification can be increased, Bangladesh’s exports to the US market can rise several times,” said Fazlul Hoque, emphasizing the need for broader product diversification.
Fazle Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and managing director of Fatullah Apparels Ltd, said the global situation has created opportunities for Bangladesh to increase exports to the U.S. market, which local entrepreneurs are seeking to utilise.
Mahmududdin Rubel, chief executive officer of Bangladesh Apparel Voice, told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) that the current pace of ready‑made garment exports to the United States is highly encouraging.
He said that if the current pace continues over the next 12 months, Bangladesh’s ready‑made garment (RMG) export earnings from the United States could reach $9 billion in fiscal year 2026‑27.
He noted that the United States remains Bangladesh’s largest single export market, underscoring the growing importance of product diversification, higher value addition and quality improvement for expanding exports there.
Alongside ready‑made garments, Bangladesh is looking to broaden its export portfolio to the United States. Expanding shipments of leather, jute, home textiles, agricultural and processed food products, pharmaceuticals, plastics and light‑engineering goods could help diversify the country’s overall exports to the U.S.
Bangladesh’s total merchandise exports in fiscal year 2025‑26 reached roughly $48 billion, with the United States emerging as the largest single export destination, accounting for about $9.04 billion.
Strong growth in Bangladesh’s ready‑made garment (RMG) exports to the United States at the start of the current fiscal year, highlighted by a record 25.65 % year‑on‑year increase in August, has renewed focus on the country’s export potential in the US market.
Why it matters
Record growth in readymade garment exports to Bangladesh's largest single export market strengthens the country's foreign exchange earnings and overall export sector performance.