Bangladesh’s earnings from readymade garment exports grew 11.49 per cent over the last fiscal year. Earnings from knitwear exports were 11.19 per cent higher than the last fiscal year. Earnings from woven items registered a 11.79 per cent growth. The country’s overall merchandise export earnings registered a 10.55 per cent growth.

Apparel exports were helped by safety and compliance upgradation in the apparel industry, helping to boost buyers’ confidence on sourcing more clothing from the country, the US-China trade war, and good performance of apparel exports in non-traditional markets. In particular the US-China tariff war opened an opportunity for Bangladesh as global buyers shifted orders from China to Bangladesh to remain on the safe side. The sector also went on a massive machinery upgradation scheme to ensure product quality and to produce value added goods. Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector contributes 84 per cent to the country’s total export receipts. The US economy was better than it was last year, which also helped the country to export more. However, most apparel export earnings of Bangladesh are from basic goods. To get a better price, the country needs to invest in technology for value addition. Also manufacturers have to establish links with buyers who are shifting from China to other countries.