Egypt vs Bangladesh: volume or speed?
Bangladesh is one of the world's biggest garment exporters and is very competitive on large orders of basics. It is less suited to small runs, and transit to Europe and the US is long. Egypt accepts much smaller orders, ships to Europe in a fraction of the time, and has duty-free US access through QIZ.
| Egypt | Bangladesh | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical order size | Small to mid runs | Large runs |
| Transit to Europe | Short | Long |
| Duty into the EU | 0% with EUR.1, if origin rules are met | 0% under EU preferences for least-developed countries, in transition |
| Duty into the US | 0% from QIZ-registered factories | Normal duty applies |
| Best at | Denim, jersey, cotton basics | High-volume knit and woven basics |
Choose Bangladesh if
You order tens of thousands of pieces per style, sell in Europe, and can plan far ahead.
Choose Egypt if
You order hundreds or a few thousand pieces, sell in the US, or need to react within a season. Shorter transit also means less stock tied up at sea.
Watch the EU preference
Bangladesh is scheduled to leave least-developed-country status, with a transition period for EU trade preferences. Check the current terms before you plan beyond one season.
Questions
Is Bangladesh cheaper?
At very large volumes, usually yes on FOB price. At small volumes, the minimums often rule it out.
Which is better for a new brand?
Egypt, in most cases — lower minimums and faster turnaround.
Products in this guide
