DHAKA, May 09, 2019 (BSS) – The country’s export earnings maintained its positive trend with a healthy 11.61 percent growth during the first ten months (July-April) period of the current fiscal year (FY19) totaling $33,937.23 million.
The ten-month export figure is also 6.36 percent higher than the strategic target of $31,909 million.
During the July-April period of the last fiscal, the export earnings were $30,406.41 million, according to the latest data of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
The EPB figures showed that the single-month export earnings in April 2019 were $3,034.21 million compared to $2,954.71 million fetched in April last year.
The export target for the current fiscal (FY19) was earlier set at $39,000 million.
Talking to BSS, Vice President of the Bangladesh Economic Association Dr Abdul Hannan said, “Bangladesh’s export sector is mainly RMG-based and the contribution of the RMG sector is increasing day by day. Besides, political situation in recent years was stable for which the export earnings witnessed continued growth.”
Former President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Abul Kashem Khan said that the RMG sector has bounced back tremendously due to the prevailing business-friendly environment in the country.
He also opined that the export earnings would increase in future if necessary infrastructural development is ensured.
According to official data, readymade garments (RMG) continued to fetch the bulk of the earnings during the July-April with $28,490.70 million, representing a good 12.59 percent growth over the same period (July-April) of last year while woven garments earned $14,405.76 million, having a healthy growth of 12.85 percent.
Export of home textiles totaled $723.59 million with a fall of 3.74 percent while leather footwear exports earned $491.05 million, primary commodities $1,237.38 million including frozen and live fish $446.48 million, shrimps $318.43 million and agricultural products $790.90 million.
Leather and leather goods fetched $837.07 million while cotton and cotton products together earned $124.83 million, plastic products $ 100.35 million and rubber exports $21.17 million.