Bangladesh garment companies have been trying hard to win more orders. However, one problem they face is foreign buyers want quality products at low prices. And for various reasons, including an energy crisis and factory remediation costs, production costs have increased by 18 per cent. So, whoever can offer low prices will win orders. Some companies having volume capacities are taking orders at low prices. This is setting an unhealthy trend in the sector.

Terror attacks have affected visits of buyers. So it’s necessary for mills to go abroad and book orders. Competition from countries like Vietnam is another factor. Bangladesh’s clothing exports to the US declined by around six per cent during the first quarter of the current calendar year.

In the first 10 months of financial year 2016-17, the country’s exports were only 2.26 per cent higher than exports in the same period of the previous year. Most likely the country will miss the target of current fiscal year. In the first 10 months of this financial year, exports were 6.06 per cent short of the target. For the first time the country fears having negative growth by the end of this financial year.