Bangladesh’s export earnings in July were 21.72 per cent higher than in the the same period last year. Knitwear exports grew by 20.88 per cent and woven exports grew by 22.59 per cent. In the last fiscal, apparel sector contributed 83.49 per cent to the country’s total exports. Bangladesh’s export earnings from the apparel sector registered 8.76 per cent growth.

Eid vacations in June hindered production and shipment of goods. The pending shipments were sent out in July, which pushed export earnings up sharply. Improvements in safety standards and workers’ rights have raised buyers’ confidence in Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector, which is a contributing factor to the growth in exports.

Bangladesh has plenty of opportunities in the global export market. The duty on Chinese imports imposed by India and the trade war between China and the US may both help exports from Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s overall export earnings rose 5.8 per cent in fiscal ’17 as compared to fiscal ’16. In August 2015, export earnings from the readymade garment sector grew by 32.45 per cent. However, the impending new wage structure and prices of gas may pose challenges in maintaining the growth rate in future.