Bangladesh exporters fetched $1.3 billion from shipping home textiles in the July-April period of this fiscal, posting 39 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth. Receipts from shipments of home textile items like bed sheets, curtains and cushion covers were higher than export receipts from agricultural products as well as leather and leather goods during the period.

Home textile exports were 28 per cent higher than its nearest peer, agricultural products. Jute and jute goods, which topped the export basket as the second biggest earning source in fiscal 2020-21, fell to the fifth place in the face of falling demand for jute yarn, twine, sacks and bags, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

"We have been registering increasing demand for home textiles from the last fiscal year as people stayed home as a part of coronavirus containment measures," Shahidullah Chowdhury, executive director of Noman Group, the main exporter of home textiles, was quoted as saying by a Bangladesh newspaper report. It exports $27 million worth of home textiles each month.

"Our main markets are Europe, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan. However, our exports are increasing in new markets such as Australia," he added.

The sector first crossed the $1 billion mark in fiscal 2020-21, thanks to a 49 per cent YoY hike in export earnings, driven mainly by higher costs and prices of raw cotton and other materials.

EPB data shows export earnings were only 3 per cent of the total receipts of $38.75 billion for that year with garments accounting for 81 per cent.

Political uncertainty in Pakistan has also discouraged buyers from placing orders there, and therefore, the increased order flow is likely to continue.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

Disclaimer - All News/Articles items are subject to copyright and no article either in full or part may be reproduced in any form without permission from Fibre2Fashion Pvt. Ltd.