Bangladesh’s tent and camping gear exports are showing early signs of recovery as global buyers return with fresh orders after clearing excess inventories built up during the pandemic. According to data from the Export Promotion Bureau, exports of tents and camping items grew 18 percent year on year to around 50 million dollars during the July to November period of FY26.
This improvement comes after a difficult period for the sector. Exports had dropped sharply by 170 million dollars to 222 million dollars in FY24, down from a peak of 392 million dollars in FY22. A modest rebound was seen in FY25, when exports rose 2 percent to 226 million dollars, indicating the beginning of stabilization.
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Industry leaders say the current recovery is closely linked to changing global demand patterns. Hong Woo Lee, chief executive officer of Campvalley Global Ltd at the Karnaphuli Export Processing Zone, explained that the pandemic led to a surge in camping and outdoor activities, which in turn created unusually large inventories in overseas markets. Once those stockpiles were sold off, new demand began to emerge. He expects FY26 to perform better than FY25, supported by renewed buyer interest.
Campvalley Global specialises in instant tents and plastic moulds, with the United States as its primary export market. Lee also noted that Bangladesh is becoming an increasingly attractive manufacturing base for global tent brands, many of which have established production facilities in the country. This, he said, benefits international buyers and encourages further investment, including potential expansion into the Mirsarai Export Processing Zone.
Bangladesh currently has more than half a dozen manufacturers producing tents and camping equipment, most of them located in export processing zones. Rafat Husain, managing director of HKD Uni Tech Ltd at the Chattogram Export Processing Zone, said key export destinations include the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan.
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HKD Uni Tech, one of the larger global producers of camping gear, manufactures outdoor chairs, cots, and related equipment. The company is also investing in the production of steel poles and pipes used in outdoor furniture. Husain pointed out that while the global tent market itself is relatively limited, demand for camping furniture and multipurpose outdoor equipment is much larger, as many consumers also use these products at home.
He added that uncertainty surrounding potential US reciprocal tariffs earlier in the year had temporarily dampened buyer sentiment, though the issue was resolved in August. While industry players do not expect massive export growth in the current fiscal year, many remain cautiously optimistic, with stronger demand anticipated from FY27 as global markets continue to normalize