The use of non-cotton fiber in garment production in Bangladesh increased to 29% from 25% over the last three years.

The rise was due to local apparel exporters moving away from cotton to incorporate more man-made fiber to get better prices and increase business, according to the findings of a new study released today.

Globally the ratio of non cotton fiber in a garment is 75% but in Bangladesh the picture is just the opposite because the local garment exporters use 71% cotton fiber for making a garment, says the findings of a study titled “Beyond Cotton A strategic blueprint for fiber diversification in Bangladesh apparel industry” of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

Varun Vaid, business director of Indian research firm Wazir Advisors Pvt Ltd, disclosed the findings of the study at a press conference held at the BGMEA office in Dhaka today (3 March).

Wazir Advisors Pvt Ltd conducted the study on behalf of the BGMEA over the last two years.

Bangladesh has more potential to use non-cotton fiber as the demand for man-made fiber garment is on the rise globally. If Bangladesh invests $18 billion in non cotton fiber industry the country will be able to export $42 billion non cotton garment items by 2032, according to the study.

During the press conference, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said using man-made fiber, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) wants to take the global market share of locally made apparel to 12% from the existing 7.87% as the prices are higher for those products than the cotton made garment items.

Because of climate change, changes also occurred in fashion as consumers prefer more non-cotton garment items than cotton items because of its functionality and sustainability. So, the import of non-cotton fiber has increased recently.

Diversification of fiber does not mean the production base is shifted from cotton fiber. The local garment exporters are making the cotton garment and just increasing the volume of non-cotton garment to grab more markets and for better prices, said BGMEA President Faruque Hassan.

The old concept that Bangladesh mainly produces basic garment items is not true anymore as the country now produces high value added items like jackets worth more than $100 per piece, Hassan said.