Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) industry is showing signs of losing market share to regional competitors as Vietnam and Cambodia continue to attract a larger share of global apparel orders, according to the latest World Trade Organization (WTO) data.
Although global apparel trade grew by 4.46% to US$574.46 billion in 2025, Bangladesh’s garment exports increased by only 0.89% to US$38.82 billion, causing its global market share to decline from 7.0% to 6.76%.
In contrast, Vietnam recorded 10.53% export growth, reaching US$37.51 billion, while Cambodia posted the strongest performance among major sourcing countries with 16.88% growth to US$11.56 billion. Meanwhile, China’s exports fell by 4.92%, but much of the diverted sourcing shifted to Vietnam and Cambodia rather than Bangladesh.
Industry experts say buyers are increasingly favouring countries that offer faster logistics, free trade agreements, stronger man-made fibre (MMF) capabilities, stable utility supplies and a more competitive business environment.
