While Bangladesh's ready-made garment exports to the US market have declined, imports from the country into Bangladesh are growing rapidly.
In the first six months of this year, Bangladesh's product imports from the United States grew by more than 113%.
Analysis of Bangladesh Bank's country-wise import data reveals that during the January–June period of 2026, Bangladesh imported goods worth $1.8962 billion from the United States.
Among this, goods worth $605.6 million were imported during the January–March period.
In the April–June period, that figure surged to $1.2906 billion. In other words, within a span of just three months, imports grew by 113.11%.
On the other hand, Bangladesh's readymade garment exports to the US market continue to exhibit a downward trend.
According to data from the US Office of Textiles and Apparel (Otexa), US garment imports from Bangladesh fell by 4.43% during the January–August period of this year, dropping to $5.39 billion.
However, looking at August as an individual month, Bangladesh's garment exports increased by 11.15% compared to the same month of the previous year.
As a result, while pressure is mounting on Bangladesh's main export item, RMG, in the US market, imports of energy, cotton, agricultural commodities, and other goods from that country are rising.
This has reignited discussions regarding the balance of trade relations between the two countries.
Imports more than double in three months
According to Bangladesh Bank data, the highest imports from the United States during the April–June period were petroleum products, bitumen, and other mineral fuels and oil products.
Import expenditure in this sector stood at $775.2 million. In contrast, expenditure in this sector during the January–March period was only $135.5 million.
Additionally, during the April–June period, $142.6 million worth of cotton, $104.1 million worth of iron and steel, $47.8 million worth of food grains, and $72.9 million worth of soybeans and animal feed were imported from the United States.
Measuring and testing equipment worth $21.9 million, electrical equipment worth $19.1 million, and plastic items worth $18.5 million were also imported during this timeframe.
Business leaders state that alongside the new trade agreement, factors such as product quality, supply assurance, and shifting international market dynamics are driving the increase in imports from the US.
The upward trend in imports from the United States has become more pronounced following the signing of the new 'Agreement on Reciprocal Trade' between Bangladesh and the US.
Under this agreement, Bangladesh committed to purchasing energy, agricultural commodities, cotton, and other goods from the United States.
According to Bangladesh Bank data, Bangladesh's imports from the United States rose to $3.5929 billion in FY26, compared to nearly $2.72 billion in the previous fiscal.
This indicates a significant year-on-year increase in imports.
A major catalyst for further import growth from the United States could be aircraft. Biman Bangladesh Airlines has reached agreements to purchase a total of 25 aircraft from the US manufacturer Boeing.
Out of these, the deal for 14 aircraft is valued at approximately $3.7 billion.
Later, agreements were made to acquire an additional 11 aircraft. Consequently, aircraft imports are expected to add substantial figures to Bangladesh's trade transactions with the US in the coming years, along with increased imports of aircraft spare parts, maintenance, and related services.
RMG declining
While imports from the US are expanding rapidly, the picture for Bangladesh's garment exports to the US market is less promising.
Otexa data indicates that overall US garment imports fell by 7.42% during the January–August period to $49.08 billion.
Import volume decreased by 8.98%, although the average unit price increased by 1.71%.
During this period, the value of US garment imports from China dropped by 29.39% and from India by 26.44%.
Imports from Pakistan fell by 3.83% and from Vietnam by 0.76%.
Conversely, imports increased by 2.58% from Indonesia and 6.91% from Cambodia.
For Bangladesh, import value fell by 4.43%, while volume declined by 2.75%. Simultaneously, the average unit price of Bangladeshi garments dropped by 1.73%.
During the first two months of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh's import expenditure grew faster than its export earnings.
In the July–August period, import spending rose by 12.1% to $12.2 billion, while export earnings grew by 5.8% to $8.38 billion.
As a result, the trade deficit widened by 29% during this period to $3.82 billion.
China and India continue to dominate Bangladesh's import market.
In FY25, Bangladesh imported approximately $18.19 billion worth of goods from China and around $9.62 billion from India, compared to $2.72 billion from the United States.
