Despite the Russia-Ukraine war and a ban on some banks on the use of global payments messaging network SWIFT, apparel shipment from Bangladesh to Russia has largely remained unscathed because of the use of alternative routes and payment channels, exporters say.

Garrment exports from Bangladesh has not faced any major disruption since shipments are being made via alternative routes such as China and Hong Kong and the suppliers are receiving payments from China in the renminbi, the Chinese currency.

Russian importers are also placing a higher number of orders with Bangladesh to fill up the vacuum created after some large American and European retailers and brands pulled out of the market.

Russian buyers are making advance payments to Bangladeshi garment exporters as well as the demand for apparel items has increased in the market.

Only seven Russian banks have been brought under the purview of the SWIFT ban and the country's buyers are making payments to Bangladeshi sellers through other lenders.

Besides, most of the liaison offices of major retailers and brands in Russia are making payments from their offices in Hong Kong, China, and Turkey.

Shahidul Islam, Managing Director, Rupa Group, has received a payment of $30,000 recently and is waiting to get another $1.5 lakh from a Russian buyer by April 15.

Nearly 150 suppliers export garment items to Russia. Apparel shipment fetched $600 million last fiscal year, up 36 per cent. The export value may go up to $1 billion in the current fiscal year ending in June.

Export receipts from garment shipments to the country registered 35.30 per cent year-on-year growth at $481.23 million during the July-February period, the latest for which data from the Export Promotion Bureau is available.