The future outlook for garment exports from Bangladesh is promising as orders rebounding, says Faruque Hassan, Former President, BGMEA.

In February, Bangladesh’s RMG exports rose by 1.66 per cent while from July-February, they increased by 10.64 per cent to $26.79 billion, as per a report by the Bangladesh Bank. Knitwear and woven garment exports from the country also experienced double-digit growth.  

To address the growing security concerns amongst international retailers, Bangladesh needs to improve its order and order situation, emphasizes Hassan. Low pricing also remains a challenges though the country benefits from the US tariff policies, which help redirect orders from China and Mexico to Bangladesh, he adds.  

From July-February this fiscal year, exports of manufactured goods from Bangladesh increased by 10.49 per cent with sectors like plastics, rubber, and headgear showing robust growth. Exports of leather and leather products presented mixed results, with raw leather exports declining but leather footwear exports surging. The engineering sector also recorded growth, driven by electric products and bicycles.  

Exports of specialized textiles from the country recorded strong growth though terry towel exports declined as production costs rose and customs issues. However, expanding into new markets, plastic exports from the country registered significant growth.  

Economists like Selim Raihan acknowledge the encouraging export figures but express concerns about the sustainability of this growth due to stagnant private investment, inflation, security concerns, and upcoming elections. While recognizing the positive momentum, Raihan cautions that the current growth largely stems from prior orders.