If we look at the global trend, denim was a bit slow in the last 2/3 seasons. But it is slowly starting to improve. Next season, Bangladesh's denim exports will increase by 10-15% year-on-year.

Syed M Tanvir, Managing Director, Pacific Jeans Ltd. said this in a discussion with the journalists in the recently concluded 17^th Bangladesh Denim Expo.

He also expressed optimism that Pacific Jeans' exports will increase by 10-15% year-on-year.

He said, "I think you've come a long way. If we compare the fabrics produced 5 years ago with the fabrics we have today, they are now as per Pakistani and Turkish fabrics."

However, Syed M Tanvir also shared the current of Denim Industry, challenges and opportunities. From an overall business perspective, he thinks total global demand is much higher than supply, and installed capacity is higher. “The demand for denim in the USA, Europe, and overall global markets is higher than sources. The sourcing bases in Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, and China have higher installed capacity. In that case, there is definitely a price pressure,” he said.

He said, “By 2026, the European Union will implement the EU Due Diligence Regulation and by 2030, we will face a minimum 40% carbon emission reduction target, which is a significant challenge. Overall, our industry faces various challenges as well as opportunities.”

He thinks, one way to overcome these challenges is through policy-based coordination and individual efforts. He said, “At the policy level, individual factories must meet the EU requirements. Almost every industry must meet the requirements for fiber recycling, water recycling and carbon emission reduction and achieve these goals.”

“Achieving customer satisfaction and working toward it is fundamentally influenced by the leadership within each industry. For Bangladesh’s textile sector, organizations like BGMEA, BKMEA, and other trade bodies, along with all stakeholders, play a crucial role in fostering this awareness. Companies that prioritize revenue growth, product innovation, and operational efficiency will be the ones best positioned for success in the coming years,” he added.

The industry now needs to focus on value addition. Denim, a highly versatile product, holds considerable growth potential. Bangladesh's denim production is distinguished by its range, offering options from basic to premium products, high-end, medium-end and across basic categories. We hope that by expanding production of mid- to high-range products, we can gradually increase the export rate, he said.

While some orders are temporarily being redirected outside the country due to current market instability, this is a short-term trend. As stability returns, I am confident that buyers will resume their original sourcing strategies. Moreover, supportive government regulations and initiatives from trade bodies are positive developments. Over the past five years, Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in denim production, especially in terms of innovation and high-end offerings, setting it apart from other sectors in the industry.

However, business growth does not depend solely on innovation, but rather on many micro and macro environmental factors which we must take into consideration, he concluded.