The backbone of Bangladesh’s economy is trembling under the weight of a historic ultimatum. In a move that sent shockwaves through the global fashion industry, the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) recently threatened an indefinite nationwide shutdown of all spinning mills. This drastic measure highlights a deepening fracture between local textile producers and ready-made garment (RMG) exporters, occurring at a moment of extreme economic and political sensitivity for the South Asian nation.
Vietnam’s textile and garment industry is setting its sights on a historic milestone as it enters 2026. Following a record-breaking performance in 2025, where the sector generated $46 billion in export turnover, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has officially raised the stakes, setting an ambitious target of $50 billion for the coming year. This surge is part of a broader national momentum; after achieving a total export value of $475 billion in 2025—a 17 percent year-on-year increase—Vietnam is now looking to add nearly $38 billion more to its national export tally this year.
The Bangladeshi government finds itself caught in a high-stakes tug-of-war between two pillars of its economy: local spinning mills and ready-made garment (RMG) exporters. Tensions reached a boiling point after the Commerce Ministry recommended that the National Board of Revenue (NBR) scrap duty-free import facilities for specific yarn counts. While local spinners have hailed the move as a long-overdue lifeline, apparel exporters warn that the policy could cripple the country’s global competitiveness at a time of intense price pressure.
The Indonesian government’s plan to revive a State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN) in the textile sector has become a major focal point for industry players and economic observers. This strategic move, directed by President Prabowo Subianto, aims to strengthen the national industrial structure through a massive funding injection of $6 billion (approximately IDR 95 trillion) managed by the Danantara investment agency. The initiative comes as a direct response to the fragility of the domestic textile value chain, particularly in yarn production, weaving, and finishing processes that have long struggled against the tide of foreign products.
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