The country's export earnings during the July-February period of current fiscal year (FY), 2013-14, witnessed a slow growth, following a downward trend in the shipment of readymade garment (RMG) products, sources said.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) official data, the country's overall export stood at $19.82 billion during the first eight months of the FY, registering a 13.96 per cent growth over the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
However, the overall export growth was 18.02 per cent in July-November, 16.56 per cent in July-December, 15.08 in July-January of the current fiscal.
The total earnings during the July-February period exceeded the target by 2.17 per cent, according to the EPB data.
The single month earning in February 14 also maintained a slow growth rate of 6.36 per cent. The earning growth drastically fell in January 14 to 7.81 per cent from 16.56 per cent in December.
The single month earning in February 2014 stood at $2.38 billion, marking a 6.36 per cent growth. However, the earning fell short of the target by 3.76 per cent.
However, the government officials have termed the growth good and normal, considering the country's overall situation, including the recent political turmoil, and a series of accidents in apparel sector.
Earning from knit products stood at $7.91 billion during the July-February period of the FY 14, marking a growth of 17.50 per cent and surpassing the target by 7.39 per cent, according to EPB data.
Woven products fetched $8.22 billion, showing a growth of 15.92 per cent. The earning also crossed the target by 2.86per cent.
Export growth of knit and woven products is witnessing a continuous declining trend since July-November of the current fiscal. During the July-January period, export of knit and woven products grew by 18.13 per cent and 17.32 per cent respectively.
Export earning from knit items stood at $1.25 billion in July, $848.25 million in August, $1.05 billion in September, $862.01 million in October, $877.61 million in November, $1.048 billion in December, $1.045 billion in January and $915.76 million in February of this fiscal.
Similarly, woven items fetched $1.26 billion in July, $796.05 million in August, $985.26 million in September, $820.49 million in October, $889.35 million in November, $1.22 billion in December, $1.19 billion in January and $1.04 billion in February.
The EBP data also showed that export of jute and jute goods witnessed a negative growth of 20.71 per cent during the July-February period of 2013-14.
Earning from leather and leather goods, frozen food, pharmaceuticals and footwear grew by 44.33 per cent, 49.87 per cent, 24.21 per cent, 23.57 per cent, and 31.86 per cent respectively during the period.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) vice president Md Shahidullah Azim said decline in the growth of local apparel export is the impact of the recent spells of hartal and blockade. As a result, many manufacturers had to face order cancellation or delayed shipments and offer discount on their products to the buyers.
Apparel makers said the cost of doing business has significantly increased, as many of the exporters had to meet the deadline through air shipments. They could not send their products through waterways due to political impasse.
