Bangladesh’s exports show negative growth in September

Bangladesh’s merchandise exports shrank 6.25 percent to $3.9 billion year-on-year in September as shipments of apparel products declined along with some other key products that showed negative growth, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data released on Sunday.

Also, the exports were 7 percent down from the monthly strategic target set by the commerce ministry for September.

However, the EPB data shows, overall exports for July-September, the first quarter of the current fiscal year, saw 13.38 percent growth compared to the same period a year ago.

Though the readymade garments exports grew by 13.41 percent during the July-September period, growth for knitwear exports declined to 9.40 percent and woven garments to 18.73 percent.

However, the exports of home textiles continue to show robust growth as it registered 26.59 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

Exports of the agricultural product went down by 20 percent to $275 million in the quarter, while leather and leather goods grew by 20.87 percent to $271.34 million and jute yarn export rose by 7 percent to $136 million.