Woven garment exports from Bangladesh raced ahead of knitwear in the fiscal year 2014-15. Export of woven garment fetched $13.06 billion in FY 2014-15, up 5 per cent as compared to the previous fiscal year, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

During the period, knit earnings stood at $12.42 billion, marking a 3.13 per cent growth. Knitwear had become the top export earning product since the fiscal year 2008. But woven exports started turning positive since the fiscal year 2011-12 with earnings of $9.60 billion while knit earned $9.48 billion. The export growth of knit product, however, was 0.05 per cent in the fiscal year 2011-12. Since then, woven products have emerged strong sustaining their top position.

Industry experts say, the rise in woven garment exports is being led by revised rules of origin by the European Union since January 2011. Under the revised EU rules of origin, clothing exporters can enjoy duty-free access to the European Union even if they source fabrics from other countries.

www.epb.gov.bd