Consequent to the mass vaccination, the USA has somewhat been able to control the spread of coronavirus pandemic and people have started going out and shopping again following relaxation in the COVID-related restrictions, which has resulted in an increase in the demand for apparels, and garment export from many countries has registered an increase lately although Bangladesh was yet to make much of this opportunity.
Media reports maintained this while adding exports from Vietnam and China have, reportedly, increased during first four months (January-April) of 2021, whereas, in comparison Bangladesh’s exports have declined.
Citing data from the US Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), the reports maintained that Bangladesh exported garments worth about US $ 2 billion to the US in the first four months of 2021, which is, reportedly, a 3.71 per cent fall as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year even as Vietnam, on the other hand, exported apparels worth around US $ 4.55 billion to the US in January-April of 2021, 8.91 per cent higher than the export earnings of US $ 4.18 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year while China’s apparel exports have, reportedly, increased by 19.86 per cent year-on-year to US $ 4.66 billion in January-April period of 2021.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Mohammad Hatem, who is the Vice-President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), has maintained that because of Ramadan and Eid, apparel exports dropped a little in May even as he went on to express hope that exports will increase from July-August.
Several work orders of the US buyers have been diverted from Vietnam, Cambodia and China to Bangladesh, the BKMEA Vice-President, reportedly, claimed further.
