Bangladesh’s garment makers have huge opportunities in the sweater industry. Right now the world sweater market is dominated by China. But since China is gradually inclining to the hi-tech and heavy industry, Bangladeshi apparel makers can easily grab the sweater market.
Sweaters are one third of the world knitwear market. And in Bangladesh too sweater production is one third of the country’s knitwear production. Sweater production can be enlarged by introducing automated machines. Many sweater manufacturers in Bangladesh have already introduced automated jacquard machines that are helping them enjoy a robust volume of production. Different sweater factories in Bangladesh have installed some 10,000 machines imported from Japan and South Korea.
Producing sweaters and functional fabrics in large volumes would be a pathway for Bangladesh’s apparel sector to reach its export target of $50 billion by 2021.
The knitwear sector in Bangladesh currently supplies 90 per cent of the knit fabric requirements. Many garment units have their own dyeing and finishing units. In fact a separate dyeing and finishing industry also has grown up over time to support the sector. There are more than 2000 knitwear factories and the industry has strong backward linkage facilities. The knitwear is exported to 153 countries of the world.
