RMG export drops 6.21pc in 6 months: EPB

Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) export markets witnessed a negative growth of 6.21 percent to $16.02 billion in the first half of the current Fiscal Year (FY).

Exports during the same period in the previous fiscal were $17.08 billion, UNB reports.

Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data of July-December released on Sunday show the overall exports earning during this period recorded 5.84 percent negative growth to $19.30 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the amount was $20.5 billion.

The data also showed that knitwear products export declined 5.16 percent to $8.2 billion, which was $8.65 billion in same period in 2018.

Besides, export earnings from woven garments goods came down 7.28 percent to $7.82 billion. It was $8.43 billion in the previous year.

EPB data showed home textile recorded a negative 9.5 percent growth to $3.7 billion. It was $4.8 billion in 2018. Besides, leather and leather products witnessed negative 10.61 percent growth while frozen and live fish export declined 7.7 percent in December compared to last year.

Bangladesh earned $3.52 billion in December last year, which was $3.43 billion in the same period of last year, EPD data showed.

Agricultural products earning increased 1.21 percent to $523.9 million in December from $517.64 million compared to last year.

Jute and Jute goods export earnings increased 21.55 percent to $511.73 million in 2019, which was $421.02 million in 2018.

On the other hand, Chemical products export rose 2.31 percent while pharmaceuticals witnessed 5.71 percent growth in December 2019 compared to last year.