DHAKA — Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) exports to the United States surged 25.65 percent year-on-year in August, marking the highest monthly growth recorded in the US market, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Bangladesh exported more than $817 million worth of garments to the US in August of the 2026-27 fiscal year, compared with $650.34 million during the same month a year earlier.

During July-August of FY2026-27, Bangladesh’s RMG exports to the US reached $1.61 billion, registering an 11.42 percent increase from the corresponding period of FY2025-26. The average monthly RMG export to the US during the first two months of the current fiscal year stood at $806.46 million, compared with an average of $645.38 million in FY2025-26. The strong performance was largely driven by the sharp increase recorded in August.

The United States remains Bangladesh’s largest single market for RMG exports. In FY2025-26, Bangladesh exported around $9.04 billion in merchandise to the US, up 4.09 percent from the previous fiscal year. Of that amount, approximately $7.74 billion came from RMG products, while non-garment exports accounted for about $1.30 billion.

Bangladesh’s non-RMG exports to the US include leather and leather goods, jute products, home textiles, agricultural and processed food products, plastics and melamine products, pharmaceuticals, footwear, textiles and yarn, and light engineering products.

US market offers further growth opportunities

Apparel industry leaders say Bangladesh has significant room to expand its presence in the US market, particularly through product diversification and increased production of higher-value garments. Mohammad Fazlul Hoque, an apparel entrepreneur and administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said the August increase was partly linked to the deadline for placing orders for winter apparel.

“Despite various global crises, Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have an inherent capacity to compete,” he said, adding that exporters are receiving better orders from US buyers for the coming months. Hoque said greater product diversification could help Bangladesh substantially increase exports to the US.

Fazle Shamim Ehsan, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and managing director of Fatullah Apparels Ltd, said changing global conditions have created opportunities for Bangladeshi exporters. He stressed that reliable energy supplies and policy continuity would be important for fully utilizing those opportunities.

Mahmududdin Rubel, CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice, described the current pace of RMG exports to the US as encouraging. He estimated that if the current trend continues over the next 12 months, Bangladesh’s RMG export earnings from the US could reach $9 billion in FY2026-27. He also emphasized the importance of product diversification, higher value addition and improved quality to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the US apparel market.

Focus shifts to export diversification

Alongside garments, Bangladesh is seeking to expand exports of leather, jute, home textiles, agricultural and processed food products, pharmaceuticals, plastics and light engineering goods to the US. The Commerce Ministry has identified pharmaceuticals, leather and leather products, agricultural goods, light engineering and information and communication technology as priority sectors for expanding trade with the United States.

Bangladesh earned around $48 billion from total merchandise exports in FY2025-26, with the United States accounting for approximately $9.04 billion, making it the country’s largest single export destination.

The sharp growth in RMG exports during the opening months of FY2026-27 has renewed attention on Bangladesh’s potential to expand its share of the US apparel market while diversifying its overall export base.

DHAKA — U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen and Labor Attaché Leena Khan met with Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman to discuss ways to strengthen Bangladesh-U.S. relations through high labor standards.

The meeting, held in Dhaka on Monday, focused on the importance of maintaining strong labor standards as a foundation for sustainable economic growth, improved working conditions and a stronger business environment in Bangladesh. According to the U.S. Embassy, the discussions highlighted how high labor standards can benefit workers and businesses while contributing to long-term economic growth in both countries.

The meeting also underscored the importance of continued cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States on labor issues as the two countries seek to deepen their broader economic and commercial relationship. High labor standards are increasingly important to Bangladesh’s export-oriented industries, particularly the ready-made garment sector, which remains heavily dependent on access to major international markets.

Improving workplace safety, protecting workers’ rights and ensuring compliance with internationally recognized labor standards can also help strengthen the competitiveness of Bangladeshi businesses and attract greater foreign investment. The discussions between the U.S. delegation and BEPZA leadership come at a time when Bangladesh is seeking to further modernize its export-processing zones and improve the overall investment environment.

BEPZA oversees the country’s export processing zones, which host domestic and foreign-invested companies engaged in export-oriented manufacturing and employ a large workforce. The U.S. side has repeatedly emphasized labor rights and workplace standards as important elements of the broader Bangladesh-U.S. trade and economic relationship. Ambassador Christensen and Labor Attaché Leena Khan’s meeting with the BEPZA executive chairman reflects Washington’s continued engagement with Bangladeshi authorities on labor issues and economic cooperation.

Both sides emphasized the potential for stronger cooperation to create a more favorable environment for workers and businesses while supporting sustainable and mutually beneficial economic growth. The meeting is expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to deepen Bangladesh-U.S. economic ties through improved labor practices, stronger worker protections and a more competitive investment environment.