Performance Review Of Bangladesh Readymade Garments (RMG) Industry During (April-June 2022)
Summary
Total export earnings from Readymade Garments (RMG) stood at USD 11184.76 million in April-June FY22 (Woven USD 5090.34 million and Knitwear USD 6094.42 million), which was 2.97 percent lower than that of the previous quarter but 40.36 percent higher than the same quarter of last year.
RMG’s total export earnings in April-June FY22 were 26.99 percent higher than the quarterly target of USD 8807.81 million.
The United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and Belgium were the top destinations for Bangladesh’s RMG exports during April-June FY22. From these nine countries, Bangladesh earned USD 8215.13 million from RMG, accounting for 73.45 percent of total RMG exports.
During April-June 2022, RMGs net export (determined by subtracting RMG raw material import value from RMG export value) was USD 6045.59 million, or 54.05 percent of gross RMG export.
Export earnings in Bangladesh hit an all time high of USD 52.08 billion in FY22, where as usually the Readymade Garments (RMG) fetched the lions share, netting USD 42.61 billion despite COVID related uncertainties throughout the world.
In the said quarter of FY22, the country’s RMG export earnings were USD 11184.76 million which were 2.97 percent lower than that of the previous quarter but 40.36 percent higher than the same quarter of last year and simultaneously 26.99 percent higher than the quarterly export target. This upsurge in export growth mainly fueled by the continuous supporting roles from the government and Bangladesh Bank. However, the momentum of this rising trend may some-what be conical in the current fiscal year due to ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the global energy price- hike, and rising inflation in our major export destinations.
In FY22, the RMG sector contributed 9.25 percent to GDP. Bangladesh’s overall RMG export earnings stood at USD 42613.15 million, which was 35.47 percent higher than that of the previous fiscal year (Chart-1).
The sectoral shares of export earnings in FY22 have been shown in Chart-2.
Source: Export Promotion Bureau (EPB)
RMG’s export earnings stood at USD 11184.76 million during the last quarter of FY22. Due to substantial improvement of COVID situation, RMG’s export earnings escalated into 26.99 percent higher than that of the quarterly target. Woven garments and knitwear contributed 37.77 percent and 45.22 percent respectively to total export earnings during the quarter under review (Table-1). Besides, in this quarter, the contributions of non-RMG products to total exports earnings were as follows: leather and leather products (2.58 percent), agricultural products (1.51 percent), and other products (12.91 percent) (Chart 3).
Source: Export Promotion Bureau (EPB)
Knitwear
After experiencing a slight setback of growth in the previous quarter, export earnings from knitwear rose in April-June FY22, to USD 6094.42 million, which was 2.29 percent higher than the previous quarter and 41.54 percent higher than the same period of the previous year.
Furthermore, knitwear exports were 24.61 percent larger than the target for the quarter under review (Table-1). Export trends of knitwear and woven are displayed in Chart-4 on quarterly basis.
Table-1: Export of Readymade Garments (From FY17 to FY22)
Source: Export Promotion Bureau (EPB)
Woven Garments
The fourth quarter of FY22 showed a declining trend of export earnings from woven, which stood at USD 5090.34 million, a down 8.60 percent from the previous quarter but 38.97 percent higher than that of the same quarter of the previous year. Moreover, exports of woven garments
Knitwear Woven were 29.96 percent higher than the quarterly export target (Table-1). Chart-4 shows quarterly trend of export earnings from knitwear and woven garments.
Import of Raw Materials and Net Exports from RMG
The import value of raw materials (raw cotton, synthetic/viscose fibre, synthetic/mixed yarn, cotton yarn, and textile fabrics and accessories for garments) was USD 5139.17 million in April- June FY22, accounting for 45.95 percent of total RMG export earnings. As a result, net exports from this sector stood at USD 6045.59 million in the fourth quarter which was 0.38 percent and 44.88 percent higher than that of the preceding quarter and the same period of previous year respectively. The imports of raw materials and net export based on L/C statement from FY19 (April-June) to FY22 (April-June) are shown in chart-5 and table 2 respectively.
Table-2: Trends of Net Exports from RMG Sector Against Raw Materials Import
Destination of RMG Exports
The main destinations of Bangladesh’s RMG exports are the USA, Germany, UK, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Canada, and Belgium (Chart-6). During April-June of FY22, total export earnings from these nine countries stood at USD 9084.71 million; of which 90.43 percent or USD 8215.13 million was earned from the RMG (woven 43.03 percent and knitwear 47.40 percent) export (Table-3). During the quarter under report, RMG export earnings from these nine countries decreased by 2.45 percent as compared to that of the previous quarter but this was 40.81 percent higher than that of the corresponding quarter of the preceding fiscal year.
Recent Measures Taken to Facilitate RMG Exports
Recently, the government and Bangladesh Bank have undertaken a number of measures especially for facilitating production and export of the RMG sector. Some measures taken to boost up production and export of the RMG sector are highlighted below:
Pre-shipment Credit: To continue the export activities of export oriented RMG industries amid the Corona pandemic, Bangladesh Bank has formed a refinance fund worth of BDT 50.00 billion. RMG entrepreneurs can take loans from this fund through banks at 6 percent rate of interest (BRPD Circular No 9, Date 13 April, 2020). Recently, for the betterment of economic growth in export sector, BB reduced the interest rate on this refinance fund from 6 percent to 5 percent at receiver level and 3 percent to 2 percent at bank level (BRPD Circular No-26, Date 26 April, 2021). Bangladesh Bank has expanded the tenure of loan facilities for entrepreneurs from 01 year to 03 years under this refinance scheme. Entrepreneurs can avail the loan more than one times within the mentioned period (BRPD circular no: 44, Date 30 September 2021).
Incentives for Export Expansion: During the FY22, to encourage the country’s export trade, export subsidies or cash incentives have been given for some export items from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. Among them, 4 percent cash incentive has been given to export oriented garments sector, small & medium industry of garments sector and to help expanding the new items/new market garments sector (excluding the USA, Canada, UAE). Inspite of existing 4 percent cash incentive, additional 2 percent has been given as support for the exporters of garments sector of EURO zones. Morever, 1 percent special cash incentive has been to RMG sector (FE Circular No-29, Date 20 September, 2021).
Extended Facilities for Trade Transactions: To facilitate smooth transition in the external trade activities of the country, the following decisions have been implemented:
The usage period for industrial raw material imports, including back-to-back imports under supplier or buyer credit, has been extended up to 270 days under the Guideline for Foreign Exchange Transactions (GFET)-2018, Vol.-1.
The Export Development Fund (EDF) limit for individual BTMA and BGMEA member mills have been enhanced to USD 30 million from USD 25 million, and the period of EDF loan has been extended from 90 days to 270 days which remained valid for the respective transactions until June 30, 2022 (FE Circular No-01, Date January 6, 2022).
Conclusion
The strong growth in the RMG industry and the boom in export earnings in the last several months are highly encouraging for Bangladesh. However, for the next phase of export growth and competitiveness for the RMG sector, the pace of innovation and digitalization should be given high priority. Furthermore, this sector requires the adaptability appetite for fast fashion demand and diversified products in the future to settle its own brand globally through the increasing knowledge and skills of garment workers.
(The above Review of Bangladesh Readymade Garments (RMG) Industry (April-June 2022) is as per the Bangladesh Bank)
The import value of raw materials (raw cotton, synthetic/viscose fibre, synthetic/mixed yarn, cotton yarn, and textile fabrics and accessories for garments) was USD 5139.17 million in April- June FY22, accounting for 45.95 percent of total RMG export earnings. As a result, net exports from this sector stood at USD 6045.59 million in the fourth quarter which was 0.38 percent and 44.88 percent higher than that of the preceding quarter and the same period of previous year respectively. The imports of raw materials and net export based on L/C statement from FY19 (April-June) to FY22 (April-June) are shown in chart-5 and table 2 respectively.
