When China has been rapidly losing its share in the global apparel export market for the past three years, Bangladesh's share remains static at around 6.40 per cent.
Chinese share in the global ready-made garment (RMG) market declined to 31.25 per cent in 2018 from 34.90 per cent in 2017 and 36.40 per cent in 2016.
Conversely, the share of Bangladesh was 6.43 per cent in 2018, according to the latest statistics released by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
It was 6.45 per cent in 2017 and 6.36 per cent in 2016.
The annual export of Bangladeshi RMG products, however, posted the double-digit growth of 11 per cent last year, breaking four years of single-digit growth.
As per the World Trade Statistical Review 2019, the total value of Bangladeshi apparel exportables stood at $32.45 billion in 2018 against $29.33 billion in 2017.
WTO released the report in Geneva on Tuesday along with another flagship statistical publication 'World Trade Profiles 2019'.
It also showed that Bangladesh retained its position as the third-largest global exporter of clothing.
China is the top exporter followed by the European Union (EU).
The export of Chinese clothing items posted almost negative growth in the last calendar year.
Vietnam, however, registered 13.0 per cent growth in garment export in 2018 and its share globally reached 6.20 per cent.
It was 5.90 per cent in 2017 and 5.54 per cent in 2016.
Vietnam is the fourth-largest exporter of the apparel in the world followed by India whose share declined to 3.30 per cent from 4.10 per cent in 2017.
The annual export of Indian clothing item declined sharply last year, around 11 per cent as unveiled in the WTO statistical review.
Turkey, the fifth largest in clothing export, posted around 3.75 per cent growth in its annual shipment.
The combined share of top 10 countries in apparel exports fell to 83.30 per cent in 2018 from 87.20 per cent a year before, revealed the WTO report.
Among the top is Indonesia that posted 9.0 per cent growth. Cambodia registered 14.0 per cent growth.
The report also unveiled that annual imports of textile and textile products by Bangladesh crossed the $10-billion level last year.
In 2018 alone, the country imported textile items worth around $11.0 billion from abroad to meet its growing demand which was $9.41 billion in 2017.
It ranked as the fifth-largest textile importer and its share in global textile imports increased to 3.30 per cent in 2018 which was 3.0 per cent in 2017.
The 28-nation EU is the world's leading importer of both textile and clothing followed by the United States.
