T-shirt is one of the most exported apparel items of the Bangladesh readymade garment industry. However, in the first quarter of FY 2019-20 (July-September), the export of T-shirts fell by 7 per cent.
According to the Export Development Bureau (EPB), export of T-shirts witnessed 7 per cent fall in the first quarter of FY 2019-20, compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year.
The export of T-shirts to different countries in the first quarter (July-September) of the fiscal year 2019-20 was worth US $ 1.34 billion, which in the same period of last financial year (2018-19) stood at US $ 1.45 billion, underlined EPB data.
And as per industry insiders, low work orders, low price offered by buyers and depreciation of currency within the competing countries together combined to hit T-shirt exports in the said period.
“The export of T-shirts has declined mainly due to the depreciation of the currency within the competing countries. Most of the orders of knit products have gone to Pakistan and India,” stated Second Vice-President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Mohammad Hatem speaking to the media, adding,“High-end knit products have gone to Cambodia and Vietnam because their currency depreciated against dollar.”