RMG workers Prothom Alo file photo
The export of apparel items from Bangladesh to the countries in European Union (EU) increased by 35.69 per cent in 2022 compared to 2021.
The import of apparels by EU countries from the world grew by 20.97 per cent during this time. The EU countries imported $22.89 billion of clothing from Bangladesh in 2022, as per the data of Eurostat.
With 22.20 per cent share of the EU’s total RMG import, Bangladesh remains in the 2nd position to export highest quantity of garment apparel to the EU countries.
Talking to BSS, Director of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Mohiuddin Rubel said that on the whole, the export of Bangladeshi RMG items to the EU market was good last year.
But, the high export trend of apparel items to the EU market which was evident during the January-June period of last year could not be maintained during the July-December period.
“The main reason behind this was that the first six months were the post Covid-19 period for which the buyers purchased many RMG items. Furthermore, we did well since there was lockdown in China,” he added.
He said that after that the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war was huge while the inflation also increased in the EU market leading to low demand for apparel items. “It also put an impact on our exports,”
Rubel also mentioned that the Bangladeshi exporters are facing tough time in maintaining their export growth in the EU market since the production cost went up.
Data showed that EU’s imports from the top sourcing country China grew by 17.01 per cent year-over-year. EU’s import from China reached $30.14 billion in 2022.
On the other hand, EU’s import from Turkey, the third largest apparel import source for the EU, increased by 10.09 per cent year-over-year and reached $ 11.98 billion. EU’s imports from India and Vietnam increased by 21.02 per cent and 35 per cent respectively.
