Bangladesh鈥檚 apparel exports to the United Kingdom in the first quarter (January-March) of 2024 fell by 23.61 per cent to 616.39 million pound compared with those of 806.89 million pound in the same period of 2023, according to UK government trade statistics.
Exporters said that country鈥檚 readymade garment exports decreased in all the major markets due to the increased cost of production and long lead time.
Although the government data showed positive export growth, the real picture reflected in the statistics provided by the importing countries, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association executive president Mohammad Hatem told 抖阴精品 on Saturday.
Long shipment time is one of the key reasons for decreasing exports as production is being delayed due to the shortage of gas, he said.
Hatem also identified harassment of customs as another important reason for the delay of export shipment.
HM Revenue and Customs data of the of the UK government showed that during January-March of 2024, the UK鈥檚 global imports of clothing declined by 20.76 per cent to 2.38 billion pound compared with those of 3 billion pound in the same period of 2023.
The UK鈥檚 apparel import from China in the first three month of 2024 also fell by 14.37 per cent to 601.51 million pounds compared with that of 702.50 million pounds in the same period of 2023.
Hatem said that all the major apparel manufacturing countries, including Bangladesh, China and Vietnam had witnessed negative export growth on the global market in recent times, but most of the countries except Bangladesh started to reduce the gap.
He said that Bangladesh鈥檚 factories were running with 60-70 capacity, as buyers were shifting orders to China and Vietnam for getting delivery within a short time.
Hatem also said that many factories had failed to entertain orders at the prices offered by the buyers, as increased utility prices and workers鈥� wages increased the cost of production.聽聽聽聽聽
The UK trade data showed that the UK鈥檚 apparel imports from Turkey in January- March of 2024 declined by 20.03 per cent to 215.87 million pounds compared with those of 269.96 million pounds in the same period of the previous year.
India鈥檚 apparel exports to the UK in the first quarter of 2024 decreased by 29.10 per cent to 201.36 million pounds compared with those of 284.05 million pounds in the same period of 2023.
UK鈥檚 apparel imports from Pakistan in January-March of 2024 fell by 18.53 per cent to 139.26 million pounds compared with those of 170.94 million pounds in the same period of the past year.
The UK鈥檚 apparel imports from Cambodia in the first quarter of 2024 declined by 11.13 per cent to 126.93 million pounds compared with those of 128.38 million pounds in the same period of the previous year.
Vietnam鈥檚 RMG exports to the UK in January-March of 2024 fell by 21.36 per cent to 92 million pounds compared with those of 116.98 million pounds in the same period of the past year.