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Bangladesh’s apparel share in US slightly higher than India

Reena Mital - Mumbai

Bangladesh has clocked a slightly higher share than India in US apparel imports. While the situation is not yet too alarming, it could cause some discomfort to the Indian apparel export sector in the years to come, according to industry experts.

Bangladesh’s apparel share in the US market stands at 4.64 per cent, as against India’s share of 2.83 per cent, according to US customs statistics. In cotton apparel, Bangladesh has a share of 4.73 per cent in the US market, as against India’s share of 3.31 per cent. In MMF apparel, Bangladesh’s share is 4.91 per cent, while India’s share is 2.09 per cent. India scores higher than Bangladesh in case of woollen apparel at 5.74 per cent of the US market share, as against 1.63 per cent of Bangladesh’s share. However, volumes in this segment are not very significant.

In case of non-knit shirts for men and boys, Bangladesh has achieved a significant share of 17.20 per cent, as against India’s share of 2.69 per cent. While Bangladesh’s exports in this category are witnessing a growth of around 10 per cent, India’s exports have fallen by around 20 per cent. In case of non-knit blouses for girls and boys, Bangladesh has achieved a share of 13.48 per cent, however, exports are on the downswing by around six per cent. As against this, India’s exports in this category to the US are rising by 15 per cent, even as India’s has a share of just 3.09 per cent of the US market. Similarly, in cotton skirts, India’s exports to the US are growing by around 30 per cent, whereas Bangladesh’s exports are witnessing a negative trend.

It is India’s stronger position in textile exports that has kept India’s share in US textile imports at around four per cent, as against Bangladesh’s share of 2.41 per cent. However, with global trade in textiles expected to be coming down and that of garments expected to rise, post-2004, Indian apparel exporters need to gear up to retain its share in the US market.