How to Import Clothes from Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the world's biggest makers of ready-made garments. That is why so many wholesale buyers want to buy clothes from Bangladesh. But if you have never done it, the process can look confusing.
This guide explains each step in plain language. It is written for wholesale buyers, traders and shop owners outside Bangladesh.
Short answer: the steps to import clothes from Bangladesh
- Decide what you need: ready stock (stock lots) or new production made to your design.
- Find a supplier and check them: real address, real photos, clear answers.
- Check the goods: photos, videos, samples, size ratio and packing list.
- Agree on price and Incoterms: for example FOB or CIF.
- Agree on payment: usually bank transfer (T/T) or letter of credit (L/C).
- Get the export documents: invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin.
- Ship the goods: usually by sea, in a full container (FCL) or shared container (LCL).
- Clear customs in your country: pay duties and follow local rules, with help from a customs broker.
The sections below explain each step.
Step 1: Decide between stock lots and new production
There are two main ways to get clothes from Bangladesh. Choose the one that fits your business.
Stock lots (surplus garments)
Stock lots are garments that are already made. They come from:
- Export overruns (factories made more than the order needed)
- Cancelled orders
- Leftover factory stock
Stock lots are usually faster and cheaper, because the goods already exist. But you buy what is available. Sizes, colours and quantities are fixed. You cannot change the design.
New to this? Read what is stock lot clothing. You can also see our stock lots page.
New production (made to order)
Here a factory makes garments to your design, fabric, sizes and labels. You get exactly what you want. But it takes longer, because fabric must be sourced, samples approved and production planned.
RMG Textile arranges this through partner factories. We do not own a factory. See our manufacturing page for how it works.
Quick comparison
| Stock lots | New production | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Faster (goods are ready) | Slower (goods must be made) |
| Cost | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Design | Fixed | Your design |
| Sizes and colours | What is available | Your choice |
Some buyers do both: stock lots for quick sales, new production for core items.
Step 2: Find and check a supplier
You can find suppliers through trade platforms, trade fairs, referrals from other buyers and Google. Wherever you find them, check them before you send money.
Questions to ask
- What is your full company address? Can I see it on a map?
- Is this stock ready now, or will it be made?
- Can you send real photos and a video of these exact goods?
- What is the size ratio and colour breakdown?
- How many pieces are in each carton?
- Which countries have you shipped to before?
- Who will handle the export paperwork?
A real supplier answers these questions clearly and without delay.
Red flags
- No real address, or an address that does not match the company name.
- No real photos. Only catalogue pictures or images copied from other websites.
- Prices far too good. If the price is much lower than everyone else, ask why.
- Pressure to pay fast. "Pay today or the stock is gone" is a common trick.
- Payment to a personal account or to a name different from the company.
- Vague answers about quantity, quality or sizes.
If you see two or more of these, slow down or walk away.
Step 3: Check the goods before you pay
Never buy clothes from Bangladesh, or anywhere else, based only on a price list.
What to ask for
- Photos of the actual goods, not catalogue images.
- Videos showing the cartons, a few opened pieces, labels and fabric.
- Samples sent by courier, if the order is large enough to justify it.
- Size ratio: how many pieces of each size (S, M, L, XL and so on).
- Packing list: pieces per carton, number of cartons, weight and volume.
For stock lots, the size ratio matters a lot. A lot full of small sizes may not sell well in your market.
Third-party inspection
You can also hire an independent inspection company to check the goods in Bangladesh before shipping. They count pieces, check quality and send you a report. It costs extra, but many buyers use it for large or first orders.
Step 4: Agree on price and Incoterms
A price is only clear when you know what it includes. That is what Incoterms are for. They are standard trade terms from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The current version is Incoterms 2020.
- EXW (Ex Works): The seller makes the goods ready at their place. You handle everything after that, including loading, export clearance and shipping.
- FOB (Free On Board): The seller clears the goods for export and loads them onto the ship at the port of loading. After that, cost and risk are yours.
- CFR (Cost and Freight): The seller also pays the sea freight to your destination port. Risk passes to you once the goods are on the ship in Bangladesh.
- CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): Same as CFR, but the seller also buys basic cargo insurance for you.
For sea shipments from Bangladesh, the port of loading is usually Chattogram (Chittagong), the country's main seaport. So you may see prices quoted as "FOB Chattogram".
When you compare quotes from different suppliers, make sure they use the same Incoterm. A FOB price and a CIF price are not the same thing.
Step 5: Payment methods
These are the payment methods commonly used in international trade. Your supplier will tell you which ones they accept.
T/T (telegraphic transfer)
A T/T is a normal international bank transfer. It is often split into two parts: an advance payment before work or packing starts, and the balance before shipping or against copies of the shipping documents.
It is simple and quick. The risk is that you pay before you receive the goods, so checking the supplier first is important.
L/C (letter of credit)
A letter of credit is a promise from your bank to pay the seller, but only when the seller presents the correct documents (for example the bill of lading and invoice) that match the L/C terms.
It gives both sides more security. But it has bank fees, more paperwork, and small document mistakes can delay payment. It is more common for larger orders.
Always pay into a company bank account in the supplier's name.
Step 6: Export documents you normally receive
Each shipment comes with a set of documents. You need them to clear customs in your country. The usual ones are:
- Commercial invoice: the bill for the goods. It shows the seller, buyer, description, quantity, price and Incoterm.
- Packing list: what is in each carton, with weights and sizes.
- Bill of lading (B/L): issued by the shipping line or forwarder. It is the receipt for the goods and, in many cases, the document you need to collect them at the destination port.
- Certificate of origin: shows that the goods were made in Bangladesh. Some countries use it to decide the duty rate.
Some countries or products need extra papers. Your supplier and forwarder will confirm the exact set for your shipment.
Step 7: Shipping
Most wholesale clothing from Bangladesh travels by sea. Air freight is possible, but it costs much more, so it is usually kept for urgent or small orders.
FCL vs LCL
- FCL (Full Container Load): you book a whole container (for example 20 ft or 40 ft) just for your goods. Best for large orders.
- LCL (Less than Container Load): your goods share a container with other shippers' goods. Best for smaller orders. You pay for the space you use, but there is more handling and it can take longer.
Transit time
Transit time depends on your destination port, the shipping line and whether there is a transfer at another port on the way. It changes from route to route and season to season. Ask your freight forwarder for a current estimate for your route.
A freight forwarder is a company that books space on ships and handles shipping paperwork. If you buy FOB, you will usually need your own forwarder.
Step 8: Import rules in your country
Bangladesh importation is only half of the job. The goods must also clear customs in your country. Rules differ a lot:
- Import duties and taxes depend on the product type and your country's tariff.
- Labelling rules may require fibre content, country of origin, care labels or labels in your local language.
- Trademark rules: many countries seize goods with brand names or logos that the buyer does not have the right to sell. Be careful with stock lots that still carry brand labels.
Before you order, talk to a local customs broker in your country. They can tell you the duty rate, the required documents and any labelling rules.
RMG Textile works with buyers in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, South Korea, Brazil and Africa. Each market has its own rules. See our markets page, or read about shipping to Lebanon, where we have shipped before.
FAQ
Is it legal to import clothes from Bangladesh?
Yes, in most countries. But you must follow your own country's customs, labelling and trademark rules. A local customs broker can confirm what applies to you.
Are stock lots the same as second-hand clothes?
No. Stock lots are new, unworn garments. They are surplus from export production, such as overruns or cancelled orders.
Which Incoterm should a first-time buyer choose?
Many first-time buyers prefer CFR or CIF, because the seller arranges the sea freight to your port. Buyers with their own forwarder often choose FOB. Compare quotes on the same term.
Can I buy a small quantity?
It depends on the supplier and the goods. Some stock lots are sold only as a full lot. Ask the supplier, and consider LCL shipping for smaller orders.
How do I know the goods match the photos?
Ask for videos of the actual cartons, request samples, and consider a third-party inspection before shipping.
Ready to buy clothes from Bangladesh?
RMG Textile is based in Uttara, Dhaka. We sell garment stock lots, source stock to your requirements, and arrange made-to-order manufacturing through partner factories. See how it works.
Tell us what you need: product type, quantity, sizes and destination country.