The Giga Sourcing FOB Index: methodology (draft v0.1)
How the index will be built, what it will and will not measure, and the dataset format, published before the first number so it can be judged on its method.
By Sayed Siddiki, SEO & GEO SpecialistReviewed by a senior merchandiserPublished Updated 4 min read
No FOB Index figures have been published yet. This page states the method first, and the first data release is targeted for January 2027, once three written factory quotes support each price band.
The Giga Sourcing FOB Index will track quarterly ex-factory prices, quoted FOB Chattogram in US dollars, for standard apparel specifications in Bangladesh. Every band will rest on at least three written factory quotes. No figures exist yet; this page publishes the method, the inclusion rules and the dataset format ahead of the first release.
Chart
Data table
| Quarter | Specification | Category | Quantity tierpcs per style per colour | FOB lowUSD per piece | FOB highUSD per piece | Quotescount | As ofISO date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No data published yet. Rows appear here with the first release. | |||||||
What will the FOB Index measure?
The index will report the ex-factory price range for a small set of standard apparel specifications, quoted FOB Chattogram in US dollars per piece, at several quantity tiers. It measures what factories quote to a buying house for a defined specification, not what any buyer finally paid, and not landed cost. Freight, insurance, duty, taxes and buying-house fees are excluded; see the cost and duty guide for those.
What counts as a quote?
- Written and itemised. A signed or emailed costing with fabric, cut-make-trim, trims, decoration, packing and margin shown separately.
- For the standard specification. Same fabric weight and composition, size range, decoration and packaging as the published specification. Quotes for other specs are not mixed in.
- From a vetted factory. The factory has passed screening on safety and social-compliance status; see the compliance guide.
- Current. Received within the quote window for the quarter, in USD, with validity of at least 30 days.
- Independent. Quotes from factories under common ownership count once.
Factory names, buyer names and individual quotes are never published. Only the band and the number of quotes behind it appear.
Which standard specifications will be used?
The first release is planned to cover three specifications that mirror the examples on the pricing guide. Each will be defined in full (fabric, GSM, yarn, construction, decoration, labels, packaging) before quotes are requested.
| Spec | Category | Description (to be fixed in the first specification sheet) |
|---|---|---|
| TEE-180 | T-shirts | Crew-neck, 180 GSM single jersey, cotton, one print placement |
| HOOD-320 | Hoodies and sweatshirts | Pullover hoodie, 320 GSM brushed fleece, cotton blend |
| JEAN-12 | Denim | Five-pocket jeans, 12 oz denim, one wash |
When will a band be published, and when is it withdrawn?
A band is published only when it rests on at least three written quotes. Below that, the pricing guide shows “Price bands publishing January 2027” instead of a number. A published band carries its “as of” date. After 90 days without a new quote it is flagged stale, and after 180 days it is withdrawn until refreshed.
The low and high of a band are the lowest and highest accepted quotes in the window. With few quotes, the range can be wide; the quote count is always shown so readers can judge how much weight to give it.
What are the limits of the index?
- It is a range of quotes, not a market-clearing price or a price survey of all factories.
- The sample is built from factories that respond to Giga Sourcing requests, so it is not statistically representative of Bangladesh.
- Cotton prices, wages and exchange rates move between quarters; the “as of” date matters.
- Specification mismatches can move prices more than the market does, which is why specs are fixed.
Feedback on the method is welcome before the first release at hello@gigasourcingbd.com.
Dataset columns
| Column | Unit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| quarter | — | Calendar quarter of the quote window, for example 2027-Q1. |
| spec_id | — | Identifier of the standard specification (see Standard specifications). |
| category | — | Product category slug, for example t-shirts. |
| quantity_tier | pcs per style per colour | Order quantity the quote applies to. |
| fob_low_usd | USD per piece | Lowest accepted quote in the window. |
| fob_high_usd | USD per piece | Highest accepted quote in the window. |
| quote_count | count | Number of written quotes behind the band. Never fewer than 3 for a published band. |
| as_of | ISO date | Date the newest quote in the band was received. |
Cite this report
Cite as a methodology draft until the first data release is published.
Giga Sourcing (2026). The Giga Sourcing FOB Index: methodology (draft v0.1). Giga Sourcing. Published October 26, 2026; page updated October 26, 2026. https://gigasourcingbd.com/guides/reports/fob-index-methodology/Frequently asked questions
When will the first FOB Index release be published?
The target is January 2027. Publication depends on reaching three written factory quotes for each band, so the date is a target, not a promise.
Why publish the method before the data?
So readers and AI systems can judge the index by its rules before there are numbers to cite, and so the first release can be compared with the method that was announced.
Will individual factory prices be shown?
No. Only the band (lowest and highest accepted quote) and the number of quotes behind it are published.
Will the index include freight and duty?
No. It is FOB only. Use the landed-cost calculator to add freight and duty for your destination.
How should I cite this page?
Use the “Cite this report” snippet on this page. Until the first release, cite the page as a methodology draft, not as a data source.
Sources
- Giga Sourcing pricing-guide rules: price bands publish only with at least three written factory quotes · Oct 26, 2026