http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=57284
July export jives with knitwear feat
Marks 84pc rise over last year’s
Staff Correspondent
The knitwear sector recorded a sharp exports growth fetching $640.50 million in July, an 84.72 percent rise over the corresponding period of last year, while the total export grew by 71.01 percent.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), total export this July was $1.543 billion. It was $902.33 million in July 2007 when knitwear export was recorded at $346.74 million.
Knitwear export was recorded at $603 million in June this year.
In fiscal year 2007-08, export for the sector was estimated at $5.532 billion with a 21.24 percent growth, exceeding the $5.465 billion target, the EPB data show.
The EPB has not yet announced the export target for fiscal year 2008-09.
EPB Vice Chairman Shahab Ullah said, “We will announce the annual export target for different sectors after the Eid and Puja vacations.”
According to the EPB, the export price index increased by 5.28 percent in July while export volume rose by 65.73 percent.
The export price index for primary products increased by 5.68 percent while the export volume rose by 22.88 percent. In the manufacturing sector, the index increased by 5.25 percent and export volume by 69.39 percent.
“The export figure of July is a good one. Upcoming months will see more exports as different sectors have become more active,” Shahab said.
A sharp rebound in knitwear exports followed by peaceful political environment, currency appreciation against the dollar by major competing countries and aggressive marketing drive helped fuel exports of local products, said people involved in the sector.
Export of woven garment also regained sharply in July fetching $547.30 million with a 58.55 percent growth while it was $345.20 million in July 2007. Woven garment export reached $5.168 billion in FY2007-08.
Export of frozen foods was $64.06 million in this July, registering a 39.47 percent growth compared to the corresponding period of 2007.
Besides this phenomenal export growth in knitwear and woven sectors–two major sub-sectors of ready-made garment (RMG), exports of home textiles, raw jute, footwear, handicrafts, ceramic products, jute products, petroleum by-products, terry towel and textile fabrics also showed a good growth in July.
Export of home textiles was $28.99 million with 55.19 percent growth, raw jute $11.57 million with 78.27 percent growth, footwear $18.58 million with 75.61 percent growth, handicrafts $0.46 million with 31.43 percent growth, ceramic products $4.15 million with 85.27 percent growth, jute products $30.07 million with 32.70 percent growth, petroleum by-products $30.20 million with 1425.25 perce
