Reports state, Bangladesh’s cotton imports, which witnessed a massive decline on account of COVID-19, are expected to rebound to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. As Khorshed Alam, Managing Director, Little Group point out, demand and consumption of cotton have started growing again following apparel manufacturing factories resuming production after the country-wide shutdown.

As per Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) data, Bangladesh imported 7.1 million bales of cotton in fiscal 2019-20, which is 13.4 per cent less than what it was a year earlier. Import of cotton took a massive hit after the government declared a two-month ‘general holiday’ on March 26 as garment manufacturing units as well as spinning and weaving mills had to wind up operations temporarily. However, from June onwards, as RMG units resumed operations, spinning and weaving mills also sprang back to action and cotton import gained momentum.