Bangladesh’s exports of home textiles in the first quarter of the current fiscal year increased by 26 per cent over the same period of last year. Even in the first quarter of the current financial year, when overall export earnings showed a falling trend amid the raging war and unprecedented inflation in the West, home textiles maintained their growth momentum.

After readymade garments, the home textile industry is the second-largest export earner of the country. The home textile sector is one of the first-line export sectors in Bangladesh with the ability to produce bulk products.The home textile export basket of the country includes bed linen, bed sheet and other bedroom textiles, bath linen, carpets and rugs, blankets, kitchen linen, curtains, cushions, cushion cover, and covers for quilts.

Bangladesh entered the market of home textiles in the 1980s and has invested in research, quality products, innovation and the latest technology. However, despite all the positives, Bangladesh’s share in the global home textile export market is only seven per cent. It faces competition from China, India, Pakistan and Turkey. Moreover, although Bangladesh has immense prospects in home textiles, the country is still lagging behind in ensuring fair prices.

The global home textile trade is growing at a compound annual growth rate of three per cent.