Bangladesh’s earnings from exports of readymade garments rose by almost 23 percent in January 2013, boosted by a shift in orders from China.
In January 2013, Bangladesh exported apparels worth US$ 2.09 billion, as against exports of US$ 1.70 billion made during the corresponding month of last year, according to the Export Promotion Bureau.
During the first seven months of the current Bangladeshi fiscal that began on July 1, 2012, the country’s clothing exports totaled US$ 12.04 billion, registering a growth of 9.9 percent year-on-year.
While woven garments fetched US$ 6.11 billion, showing a growth of 13.57 percent year-on-year during July-January 2012-13, knitwear accounted for US$ 5.92 billion, up 6.39 percent year-on-year.
Earnings from both woven apparels and knitwear exceeded the target by 1.49 percent and 1.14 percent respectivley, during the first seven months of the current fiscal 2012-13.
The clothing industry employs about 3.6 million people in Bangladesh and accounts for 80 percent of the country’s overall export earnings.