Textile and Apparel Industries

Impact of COVID-19 on Bangladesh’s Apparel Export Competitiveness

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Abstract

Bangladesh is one of the leading apparel-exporting nations in the world. However, the apparel industry experienced a severe downturn due to COVID-19, facing disruptions in production, supply chains, and export activities. This study examines how the pandemic impacted the country’s apparel export competitiveness. A monthly analysis of Revealed Comparative Advantage and Normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage of apparel product categories is conducted at two- and four-digit levels within the Harmonized System (HS) from 2017 to 2022. The study identified three product categories out of thirty-four that were affected by this worldwide crisis. The categories are HS 6115 (hosiery), HS 6116 (gloves), and HS 6117 (clothing accessories). The rest of the categories showed both advantages and disadvantages, but the pandemic had little impact on their export performances. The study findings can draw investments from different stakeholders that can better prepare the industry to face any similar catastrophic situation in the future.

Keywords: Bangladesh, apparel export, RCA, NRCA, COVID-19, Apparel Export

How to Cite:

Hasan, M. & Das, D., (2024) “Impact of COVID-19 on Bangladesh’s Apparel Export Competitiveness”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 80(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.17379