DHAKA, July 9, 2018 (BSS) – Export earnings from the USA, one of
Bangladesh’s key destinations, witnessed 2.64 percent growth in the first 10
months (July-April) of the last fiscal 2017-18 compared to the corresponding
period of the fiscal 2016-17 due to good performance of readymade garments
(RMG) sector.
Bangladesh exports to the USA totaled US$ 4923.65 million in July-April
(2017-18) period compared to US$ 4796.84 million in the corresponding period
of the fiscal 2016-17. The amount represents 16.19 percent of the country’s
total export earnings during the period.
According to the statistics of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the
major exports to the US market during the July-April period were woven
garment (US$ 3,254.31 million), knitwear (US$ 1133.40 million), home textiles
(US$ 157.77 million) and cap (US$ 105.68 million).
During the period, around 25.49 percent of the country’s total woven
garment exports entered the US market, followed by knitwear (9.04 percent)
and home textile (18.29 percent).
Despite political unrest, Bangladesh’s export earnings from the USA in
fiscal 2014-15 were impressive with US$ 5.783 billion, up from US$ 5.583
billion in fiscal 2013-14.
Export earnings from the USA, however, witnessed a 6.01 percent fall in
fiscal 2016-17 compared to the previous fiscal 2015-16 mostly due to the
moderate performance of the RMG sector.
Bangladesh exports to the USA were US$ 5,846.64 million in fiscal 2016-
17 compared to US$ 6,220.65 million during the previous fiscal 2015-16.
The exports in fiscal 2012-13 were also impressive with US$ 5,419.60
million.
The exports in fiscal 2011-12 were also laudable totaling US$ 5,100.91
million, slightly down from $ 5,107.52 million in fiscal 2010-11.
The export earnings in fiscal 2009-10, however, totaled US$ 3,950.47
million, down from US$ 4,052.00 million in fiscal 2008-09, mostly because of
global economic meltdown.
The 2009-10 fiscal marked the end of an ups-and-downs period for
Bangladesh exports to the USA.
From the robust US$ 2.5 billion during the fiscal 2000-01, exports had
fallen below US$ 2 billion by 2003-04. Exports to the USA rose steadily to
cross the US$ 3 billion mark in 2005-06, and peaked at nearly US$ 3.6 billion
during the 2007-08 fiscal.