Bangladesh has emerged as the second-largest producer of denim after China. During the fiscal 2017, total denim-product export was worth 1.30 billion pounds sterling. Bangladesh could be number-one denim producer if the challenges now facing the industry could be addressed properly. Infrastructure has posed major challenges. Inefficiencies in ports, inadequate rail and road networks, gas and electricity crisis and the need for a deep-sea port are some of the major challenges against Bangladesh denim industry. These are also the root causes why Bangladesh is among the highest lead-time countries. Besides, dependency on external sources for denim fabrics is another challenge facing the denim industry. According to Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) currently 31 denim manufacturing mills are producing 437.877 million yards of fabrics annually, which could hardly meet half the demand for denim fabrics. More denim factories are needed to meet the growing demand. But infrastructure problems and non-availability of land discourage the potential investors, both from home and abroad, from investing in this sub-sector of the RMG or readymade garment industry. The RMG sources urged the government to address the challenges facing the denim industry to attract more investment. They pointed out that despite different difficulties, Bangladesh has become a major hub for sourcing trendy denim products for international retailers, mainly due to its competitive pricing. Brands like Charles Voegele, G-Star, Jack and Jones, s.Oliver, River Island, H&M, C&A, PVH and Gap, Uniqlo, Tesco, Walmart, Levi’s, Diesel, Wrangler, and Hugo Boss have turned to Bangladesh in the last couple of years for denim imports. In Europ Bangladesh holds 27 per cent market share of denim export, which is 14.20 per cent on the US market. According to Eurostar, statistics directorate of the European Commission, Bangladesh exported denim products worth of 1.30 billion pounds sterling in 2017, a 0.54 per cent increase from 2016’s 1.29 billion pounds. On the other hand, data available from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (Otexa) in the US show Bangladesh earned US$507.92 million, a 9.55 per percent growth exporting denim products to the US market in 2017. The amount was US$463 million in 2016. On the other hand, Bangladesh’s main competitor, China, earned US$921.90 million, marking 1.41 percent negative growth, while Mexico registered 7.9 percent negative growth by earning US$793.42 million. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Vietnam, the two closest competitors of Bangladesh, posted positive growth of over 13 percent, earning US$213 million, and nearly 20 per cent, earning US$207 million, respectively. According to a study, conducted by Cotton Inc, demand for denim fabrics and products has been increasing rapidly throughout the globe. Almost 71 percent of people of in Europe and Latin America like wearing denim, followed by 70 percent in the US, 58 percent in China, and 57 percent in Japan.
