Bangladesh's exports grow 19 pct in nine months

Bangladesh's overall exports grew by 1. 2 billion U.S. dollars or 18.98 percent in the first nine months of the current financial year, riding on continuous good performance by knitwear products, The Daily Star reported Monday.

According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) statistics, during the July-March period of 2005-06 fiscal year (July 2005-June 2006), exports fetched 7.52 billion dollars, up 18.98 percent from 6.32 billion dollars during the corresponding period of last fiscal.

Knitwear products continued to maintain robust growth, posting a 30.8 percent rise. Knitwear items during the period earned 2.68 billion dollars against 2.05 billion dollars during the same period of the last financial year.

Export of woven garments has also been able to maintain a moderate growth during July-March period of FY06, fetching 2.97 billion dollars, up by 10.77 percent over the corresponding period of last fiscal.

According to Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), knitwear exports saw a regular rise in some major markets after quota phase-out from January last year.

Exporters hoped the trend will continue in the coming months. Besides, the BKMEA has embarked on an aggressive campaign in some major markets including the United States to increase income from this sector.

Knitwear apart, export earnings from leather, raw jute, frozen food, petroleum by-products, textile fabrics, bicycle and computer services also recorded growth during July-March period of the current fiscal year.

Frozen food exports amounted to 328.07 million dollars during July-March period of FY06, up by 0.25 percent over the same period of FY05.

Jute goods fetched 268.95 million dollars during the same period of current fiscal, recording a 19.12 percent growth.

Earning from leather products was 181.88 million dollars during the nine-month period, marking a 14.5 percent growth over the same period of last fiscal.

Chemical products worth 137 million dollars were exported during the period, up by 13.2 percent.

Source: Xinhua