Nov 21, 2025
Bangladesh's T-shirt exports gain strong ground in US market
Summer extension and sourcing shifts push demand
Bangladesh is preparing for a stronger season of cotton T-shirt exports to the United States after an unusually prolonged summer in major Western markets. Factories and exporters report rising orders as buyers adapt sourcing strategies away from China — a shift that is creating fresh opportunities for Bangladesh’s specialized T-shirt manufacturers.
Why Bangladesh is positioned to benefit
Bangladesh has long been a global hotspot for cotton T-shirt production. The country’s factories specialize in high-volume, efficient manufacturing of basic knitwear — a capability that buyers prize when they need scale and lead-time reliability. In 2017 Bangladesh topped global rankings for cotton T-shirt exports, demonstrating longstanding capacity and expertise in this segment.
Weather + demand = short-term lift
“This year’s prolonged summer in the US and Europe has fueled extra demand for T-shirts,” says Mohammad Hatem, Vice President of the Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB). Retailers who extended summer assortments needed additional seasonal stock — and many turned to Bangladesh to fill those gaps quickly.
The China-plus sourcing phenomenon
Beyond weather patterns, a larger sourcing shift is at work. Ongoing trade tensions between major economies have pushed international buyers to adopt a “China-plus” approach: diversifying manufacturing across multiple countries to reduce geopolitical risk. That trend creates a structural opening for countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and India to capture orders that previously went to China.
Opportunity — but with pricing pressure
Experts caution that while order volumes are increasing, the nature of those orders matters. Many buyers moving away from China are searching for the lowest cost options — and while Bangladesh can supply at scale, the new orders are often lower-budget. Exporters report that buyers are placing more orders but still insist on strict quality standards while pushing down prices. As Mohammad Hatem notes, “Buyers don’t want to pay. They are placing orders all right, but they want it cheap… they won’t compromise on quality though.”
What exporters should watch
Margin squeeze: More orders at lower unit prices compress factory margins; productivity and input cost control will be crucial.
Quality consistency: Low-budget orders still demand consistent quality — reputational reliability will win long-term clients.
Upgrading value: To avoid pure price competition, exploring value-added services (shorter lead times, sustainable options, design support) can differentiate suppliers.
Supply chain resilience: Diversifying raw material sources and investing in flexible production can help manufacturers capture shifting orders without overextending capacity.
Conclusion
Bangladesh stands to gain from increased T-shirt demand in the US driven by seasonal weather and a wider sourcing shift away from China. The short-term picture looks promising — factories are busy and orders are rising — but the real test will be converting volume into sustainable revenue. Exporters must balance cost competitiveness with quality and explore niche value propositions (sustainability, speed, customization) to avoid a prolonged margin squeeze. If Bangladesh can combine scale with smarter value differentiation, the current surge could translate into a durable win for its T-shirt industry.
