Bangladesh鈥檚 readymade garment exporters envision Japan as a key growth destination, aiming to expand their footprint in one of the largest apparel markets outside traditional buyers.
Despite Japan being the third-largest RMG importer globally, Bangladesh鈥檚 share remains modest, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the industry.
According to International Trade Centre data, Japan imported RMG worth around $23 billion from global sources in 2024, with only $1.2 billion, or 5.5 per cent, coming from Bangladesh.
Industry insiders noted that Japanese sourcing companies prioritise cost efficiency, quality, agility, trendiness, and shorter lead times, along with consistent communication with buyers.
Meeting these criteria, they argued, could help Bangladeshi manufacturers significantly expand their market share.
Bangladesh鈥檚 exports to Japan have shown steady growth over the past five years, rising from $944.82 million in the financial year 2020-21 to $1.19 billion in FY25, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.
In FY22, the exports were $1.10 billion, in FY23, $1.6 billion, and in FY24, it was $1.09 billion.
While progress is visible, Bangladesh still lags behind major competitors in the Japanese market, such as China and Vietnam, which exported approximately $14 billion and $4 billion, with market shares of over 55 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, in 2024.
Other notable suppliers include Cambodia and Indonesia, each exporting around $1 billion, according to provisional data from an unofficial source, as detailed official data has yet to be published.
Bangladeshi apparel exporters said that if the ongoing negotiations for the Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement is materialised, the country鈥檚 exports to Japan might witness a major jump.聽
鈥榃e have been working to increase exports聽to Japan for more than a decade,鈥� Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
He told 抖阴精品 that Japan is a potential market; if the EPA is signed, the export might increase sharply to the destination.
Meanwhile, the seventh round of negotiations for the Japan-Bangladesh EPA was held in Tokyo from September 3 to 12, with the presence of the officials from both sides.
In that聽round of negotiations, both sides had fruitful discussions on the way forward for future negotiations and on negotiating areas such as聽trade in goods, rules of origin, trade in services, investment, electronic commerce, and intellectual property, according to commerce ministry officials.
Mahbubur Rahman, secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, said that the EPA negotiations with Japan are expected to be finished within this month or next, and then a situation of signing the agreement would emerge.
The country鈥簊 apparel manufacturers stated that Japanese buyers are particularly attentive to quality, innovation, transparency, and professionalism.
Envoy Textiles Ltd is one of the major Bangladeshi suppliers to the prominent Japanese fast-retailing brand Uniqlo.
Kutubuddin Ahmed, the founder and chairman of Envoy Textiles Ltd, the world鈥檚 first LEED Platinum-certified denim mill, said that when doing business with Japanese buyers, the first condition is that the manufacturers must be honest and transparent with them.
鈥楯apanese buyers usually take time before placing orders, as they want to be completely sure of a supplier鈥檚 honesty and transparency in every aspect, including raw materials such as cotton and chemicals, as well as the entire work process,鈥� he added.
He also said that they are very particular about product quality, working environment, innovation, and professional behaviour.
聽Japanese buyers do not abruptly leave a supplier, he added, saying, 鈥榃e have a strong business relationship with Marubeni and Uniqlo, and we are working to further increase the volume.鈥�
Mohammad Hatem said that to capture the Japanese market, research and development, design, and understanding of trends are major factors.
鈥榃e need a government-initiated or trade bodies-set R&D cell which is dedicated to researching the demands, trends, challenges, and potentials of the buyer countries,鈥� he added.
Echoing a similar sentiment, Mohiuddin Rubel, former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that there are some challenges, including huge investment in R&D, maintaining shipment time, and capturing the fast-changing fashion trends of Japan.
鈥楧iversifying our market focus beyond Europe and the USA to include nontraditional markets like Japan would present a strategic opportunity to reduce reliance on traditional trade partners,鈥� he added.
He also said that expanding into Japan鈥簊 fashion-forward and quality-conscious market could open new avenues for growth and success.
According to the EPB data, Bangladesh鈥檚 overall export to Japan in FY25 was $1.41 billion, which was $1.31 billion in FY24.
