Bangladesh Cotton Import: Brazil is now emerging as the biggest source of cotton for Bangladesh. With this, India’s long-standing dominance in Bangladesh, one of the world’s largest textile markets, seems to be coming to an end. Bangladesh is the world’s second largest readymade garment exporter after China.
In a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), it was revealed that Brazil has become the top supplier to Bangladesh by surpassing India. This change has come a few months after the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power and change of government.
The distance between the two countries is increasing
In recent times, there has been some bitterness in the relations between Bangladesh and India. There are many issues behind this like Bangladesh’s increasing closeness with China, Bangladesh’s efforts to improve relations with Pakistan, illegal Bangladeshis being pushed back across the border from India, demand to send back Sheikh Hasina from India after the decision of Dhaka’s International Crimes Tribunal, India not giving any official response to the demand of Yunus government, sharing of Ganga-Teesta water etc. However, despite the sour relationship, India still remains the main supplier of cotton yarn to Bangladesh, accounting for 82 percent of Bangladesh’s total imports in the marketing year 2024-2025.
cotton import in bangladesh
According to a Reuters report in July 2025, the readymade garment sector accounts for more than 80 percent of Bangladesh’s total export earnings, which is about 10 percent of its annual GDP. According to the report, the livelihood of about 4 million people there is linked to this sector.
In the 2024-25 marketing year (August 2024-July 2025), Bangladesh imported a record 8.28 million bales of cotton. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report published in December, of these, Brazil supplied 1.9 million bales (25 percent of the market share), while India came second with 1.4 million bales (15 percent). Exactly a year ago, India was leading with 1.79 million bales and 23 percent share.
The spinning industry in Bangladesh uses raw cotton to make two types of yarn: cotton yarn and mixed yarn. According to the report, the total cotton import in marketing year 2024-25 is 5.2 percent more than the 7.8 million bales imported in 2023-24. Other major suppliers include the United States (7 percent share), Australia and several West African countries, but none come close to Brazil’s new volumes.
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