Sharp fall in export from Khulna, Jessore jute mills

Jute goods export from state-owned jute mills in Khulna-Jessore industrial belt has registered a sharp fall in the just concluded fiscal year compared to its preceding fiscal. Industry insiders said export from Khulna and Jessore’s state owned jute mills fell 38.65 per cent in 2013-2014. They put the blame on lack of demand in global market, particularly the political instability in major importing countries. According to Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), about 31,647-tonne jute goods was exported from nine state-run jute mills of the region till the first week of June in the fiscal 2013-14, against the export of 81,881-tonne in the fiscal 2012-13. The nine jute mills are facing serious financial crisis as about 43,174-tonne of their production remains unsold. This has created a huge uncertainty about the purchase of raw jute by the mills as well as payment of wages of their workers and employees. Regional coordinator of BJMC, Khandaker Jahangir Nuri, said jute goods worth Tk 400 billion remains stockpiled in the mills. He noted that political instability in major jute importing countries, including Syria, Iraq, Sudan and Egypt, has led to the fall of jute-made items export from Bangladesh. Besides, the sale of jute goods in the local market remains low due to the increase in the use of synthetic sacks, he added. Contacted, BJMC director (marketing) Babul Chandra Roy said they are trying to explore new markets for jute and jute goods in different countries to cope with the situation, according to UNB.