July-April exports hit $40.20b

The country's earnings from merchandise exports in April 2025 reached US$ 3.01 billion, the lowest in terms of single-month receipts in the current fiscal year (FY).

Bangladesh's total export receipts were recorded at $2.99 billion in April of the last fiscal year, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data released on Monday.

Of the total, earnings from exports of readymade garment (RMG) products amounted to US$ 2.39 billion in April of this fiscal, slightly up from $2.38 billion in April 2024.

On the other hand, the country's overall export earnings stood at $40.20 billion during July-April period of FY 2024-25, reflecting a 9.83 per cent year-on-year growth.

Bangladesh fetched US$36.61 billion through exporting merchandise products during the corresponding period of last fiscal, data showed.

The country's largest export-earning sector RMG fetched US$ 32.64 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal, registering a 10 per cent growth over the matching period last fiscal year.

Of the RMG items, earnings from knitwear exports rose by 10.74 per cent to reach $17.45 billion, while woven garments grew by 9.17 per cent to US$15.18 billion, the EPB data showed.

Although the overall export showed a positive trend, the export receipts from woven garments declined by 4.65 per cent in April 2025 to reach $1.08 billion compared to $ 1.13 billion in April of 2024.

On the other hand, earnings from export of knitwear sub-sector posted 5.08 per cent growth to $ 1.31 billion in April 2025 over that in the same month of last year.

Home textiles fetched $740.49 million during the first ten months of current fiscal year with the earnings witnessed a 2.69 per cent downward in April.

When asked, Fazlul Hoque former president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) attributed such single-month lowest export earnings in April to a 4.25 per cent growth to having a several days of Eid and weekly holidays.

"Often, the country's exports see a downtrend after the Eid as most of the factories remain closed at least for a week due to the Muslims' largest festival," he said.

Keeping this in view, both the exporters and importers want try to make their maximum shipments before Eid holidays, Mr Hoque also managing director of Plummy Fashions said.

Mr. Hoque, however, expressed the hope that exports might go up in the days ahead with the fiscal with the earning reaching $4.0 billion in May of this fiscal.

Meantime, exports of jute and jute goods sustained sluggish trends as their struggle as their earnings registered a 6.89 per cent fall to reach $ 684.51 million during July-April period.

Earnings from shipment of leather and leather products grew by 10.08 per cent to $932.53 million during the first ten months of FY'25, according to the EPB data.

Export receipts from leather footwear also stood at $545.35 million, showing 26.08 per cent rise.

The export receipts from frozen and live fish rose by 14.7 per cent to reach $372.69 million during July-April period of FY'25 with that of shrimp increased by 16.75 per cent to $249.03 million.

Shipments of engineering product recorded 12.45 per cent growth and fetched US$447.38 million during the last 10 months.

Export receipts from plastic products also stood at $246.27 million during the first ten months of FY25, reflecting 19.69 per cent growth, according to the EPB figures

munni_fe@yahoo.com