The accessories and packaging industry in Bangladesh is feeling the pinch of falling orders for readymade garments.

Foreign buyers are asking readymade garment companies to delay shipments of finished goods because they are faced with a fall in demand in their domestic markets and have large unsold inventories.Orders for garment exports have slowed down since October and any such reduction will have a corresponding effect on all the sub-sectors.

This is true especially of the accessories and packaging industry, the profit or loss of which is tied to the rise and fall of readymade garment exports. It is feeling the pinch as orders have declined. The accessories industry has to deal with delayed payments since garment exports are on hold.

Work orders for readymade garment exporters have fallen by as much 40 per cent. If garment accessories and packaging manufacturers received a work order for 0.1 million pieces earlier, it now has come down to 35,000 or 40,000 pieces.As garment companies see their business fall, accessories industries that supply various items which constitute the finished fabric are also facing deferred payment for finished goods delivered. There are at least some 2000 accessories and packaging companies in Bangladesh producing more than 25 products needed by the readymade garment sector.