Khairul Alam, Dhaka: In a significant shift, Bangladesh has emerged as the leading supplier of garments to the European Union (EU) for the first time, surpassing China, according to data released by Eurostat on Monday (December 19).
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) confirmed this information.
The global pandemic had previously led to a decline in demand for products, affecting Bangladesh’s apparel manufacturers. However, in the past two months, there has been a notable increase in exports, marking a positive turn in the industry.
The latest revelation positions Bangladesh as the top exporter of net garments to the EU in 2022, outperforming China for the first time.
In 2022, Bangladesh exported approximately 33 billion kilograms of garments to Europe, while China’s exports totaled around 31 billion kilograms. Although Bangladesh’s export volume was slightly less than China’s, the competitive pricing played a crucial role in its success.
Faruk Hasan, President of BGMEA, highlighted the achievement, stating that in terms of value, Bangladesh’s garment exports to the EU were 7.3 billion, slightly less than China.
However, Bangladesh surpassed China in net exports in the sub-category of knitwear.
During the first nine months of the year, Bangladesh exported net garments worth 9 billion dollars to EU countries, while China’s net garment exports amounted to 8.96 billion dollars during the same period.
In this nine-month period, Bangladesh exported a total of 571 million kilograms of garments to the EU, while China’s exports stood at 442 million kilograms. The shift in dynamics underscores Bangladesh’s growing influence in the European garment market.
The BGMEA attributes this success to a combination of factors, including competitive pricing, timely delivery, and adherence to quality standards. The data reflects a positive trend for Bangladesh, signaling a potential resurgence in its garment industry on the global stage.