The country's merchandise shipments to key North American and European destinations increased substantially in the just concluded fiscal year (FY), 2014-15, compared to those in the previous fiscal, 2013-14.
Except Germany and Canada, which marginally failed to attain the progress, exports to all other countries experienced a sizeable growth during the period despite the Eurozone crisis sweeping across the EU countries.
According to data, released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), export earnings from the US, the largest export destination for Bangladesh goods, witnessed a 3.57 per cent growth last fiscal.
Exports to the US totalled US$ 5.783 billion last FY, which was 18.54 per cent of the country's total export earnings during the period. The amount was $ 5.583 billion in the previous fiscal (2013-14).
The EPB released the export data last week which pointed out the country's total export figure at $ 31.198 billion (3119.8 crore) in the just concluded fiscal, marking a growth of 3.35 per cent. But it fell short of target by 6.03 per cent. The amount was $ 30.176 billion in the previous fiscal (2013-15).
As per EPB statistics, exports to Germany amounted to $ 4.705 billion last fiscal, which was 15.08 per cent of the country's total export earnings. The amount was $ 4.720 billion in the previous year. The European state maintained its position as the second largest export destination for Bangladeshi products, but marginally failed to achieve the growth target, marking a negative growth of 0.32 per cent.
The country exported knitwear garments worth about $ 2.268 billion, woven garments worth about $ 1.638 billion and home textile worth about $ 99 million to Germany during July-May period of last fiscal.
According to the statistics, the United Kingdom (UK) was the third largest importing country of Bangladeshi goods. Bangladesh's export to the UK amounted to $ 3.205 billion last fiscal, registering a growth of 9.86 per cent. The amount was $ 2.917 billion in the previous fiscal and represented 10.98 per cent of the country's total export earnings last fiscal.
Despite being hit hard by Euro-crisis, exports to Spain also showed a positive growth, standing at $ 1.753 billion during the period that represented 5.61 per cent of the total export.
Exports to France in last fiscal amounted to $ 1.743 billion, registering a growth of 3.92 per cent, which accounted for 5.61 per cent of the total export earnings. The amount was $ 1.677 billion in the previous FY.
Bangladesh exported knitwear garments worth about $ 889 million, woven garments worth about $ 565 million and home textile worth about $ 55 million to the country during the July-May period of last fiscal.
Exports to Italy also showed a positive growth, and totalled $ 1.382 billion last fiscal, registering a growth of 3.74 per cent. The amount was 1.332 billion in the previous FY.
Bangladesh exported goods worth about $ 1.029 billion to Canada last fiscal, which was about 3.29 per cent of the total export. The amount was $ 1.099 billion in the previous year. The major items exported to Canada included knitwear, woven garments, home textile and terry towel.
Exports to Belgium, the eighth largest importing country of Bangladeshi goods, amounted to $ 975 million, representing 3.12 per cent of the country's total export. The amount was $ 970 million last year.
Among the Far-East countries, Japan was the largest importer of Bangladeshi goods worth about $ 915 million last fiscal, as against $ 862.08 million in the previous FY.
Bangladesh exported woven garments worth about $ 337.95 million and knitwear garments worth about $ 256.87 million to the country during the first 11 months of last fiscal.
Bangladesh's export to India was the highest among the SAARC countries last fiscal, amounting to $ 527.163 million, as against $ 456.633 million in the previous FY, 2013-14. The amount was $ 563.960 million in 2012-13.
Among the Asian region, ASEAN countries and Middle-East, exports to China amounted to $ 791.003 million last fiscal as against $ 746.198 million in the previous FY, marking a growth of 6.0 per cent, mainly due to high export of leather and leather goods and RMG items.
China, the largest apparel exporter, is outsourcing its RMG products from Bangladesh and other low-cost countries because of high labour cost there. China imported apparel products worth about $ 260.71 million and leather and leather goods worth about US$ 214.66 million from Bangladesh during the July-May period of last fiscal.
Among the Middle-Eastern countries, exports to the United Arab Emirates totalled $ 293.042 million as against $ 245.347 million in the previous year, and to Singapore $ 153.463 million as against $ 135.862 million in the previous FY.
mzrbd@yahoo.comm
Exports to US, Europe record substantial rise
Ziaur Rahman | Published: July 12, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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