Bangladesh: Cotton and Products Update

Despite COVID-19, Bangladesh’s cotton imports increased 9 percent in marketing year (MY) 2019/2020, to 7.5 million bales [or 1.63 million metric tons (MMT)]. Bangladesh’s high demand during the first half of the marketing year combined with success in combating the COVID-19 outbreak has allowed textile and garment companies to maintain operations, despite a few short-term disruptions. U.S. cotton exports to Bangladesh in MY19/20 reached 230 thousand metric tons (TMT), up 28.9 percent over MY18/19. The U.S. cotton market share was approximately 14 percent in MY19/20, which is second to India’s 23 percent market share. For MY20/21, Post estimates Bangladesh’s cotton imports will slightly decrease to 7.1 million bales, given the uncertainty in global demand and relatively low import numbers in the first months of MY2020/21.

Bangladesh: Cotton and Products Update