The country's export earnings in March 2021 posted a 12.59 per cent growth to US$3.07 billion over that of the corresponding month of 2020, when Bangladesh fetched $2.73 billion in March last year.
The single month earnings in this March, however, fell short of the target by 10.79 per cent, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, released on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, exporters, especially those of ready-made garment (RMG) sector, opined that the comparison of export growth for the month of March with that of the matching month of 2020 is 'misleading'.
Exports started getting affected when the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic had hit the country in March last year. The export growths for the months of 2021 should be calculated with the corresponding months of 2019, not 2020, they suggested.
The overall export earnings during the first nine months of the current fiscal year (FY), 2020-21, stood at $28.93 billion, marking a meagre negative growth of 0.12 per cent compared to that of the corresponding period of last fiscal, the EPB data showed.
Export earnings were $28.97 billion during July-March period of FY 2019-20.
The July-March export earnings of FY 21, however, fell short of the target set for the period by 4.43 per cent.
After a continuous fall in export since the beginning of 2020, mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the earnings started recovering from June, and entered into positive territory from July, according to the EPB data.
Export earnings, however, witnessed a negative growth during the first half (July-December) of the current FY, and continued throughout its first nine months.
RMG sector fetched $23.48 billion in proceeds during the first nine months of FY 21, marking a 2.55 per cent negative growth. It also missed the target set for the period by 5.86 per cent.
The country earned $12.65 billion from knitwear exports in July-March of FY 21, registering a 5.85 per cent growth, which was $11.95 billion in the corresponding period of last fiscal.
Woven garment exports, however, declined by 10.83 per cent to $10.83 billion during the period, from $12.14 billion during the corresponding period of last fiscal, data showed.
Earnings from home textile exports grew by 41.5 per cent to $846.45 million. The achievement exceeded the target by 19.39 per cent.
When asked, Dr Rubana Huq, outgoing president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said the latest EPB data showed the continuous depressing scenario in export earnings.
"The first wave of Covid-19 pandemic hit our country last year, and the exports started getting affected since March 2020. So, a year-over-year comparison of monthly exports between 2020 and 2021 is misleading."
She suggested calculating growth of 2021 exports with the corresponding months of 2019.
After the third quarter of FY 21, RMG exports stood at $23.49 billion, which was $25.95 billion during the same period of FY 2018-19, indicating a 9.49 per cent or $2.46 billion decline.
Knitwear export struggled to retain a slight 0.35 per cent growth in March 21 over March 19, Rubana Huq noted.
Woven garments was facing the toughest time ever, while export suffered a double-digit decline since August 2020. Woven exports fell by 27.70 per cent in March 21 compared to March 19, she added.
Price trend continued to worsen, as March 2021 posted a 5.11 per cent decline in unit price compared to March 2019.
The average decline in unit price for July-March 2020-21 was 3.58 per cent compared to July-March 2018-19.
"Such consecutive declines in unit price do not require further analysis to understand the magnitude of vulnerability the industry is dwelling with."
The export markets were still struggling to contain the pandemic spread, and the third wave only added to the woes.
"Until recently, Bangladesh has been faring well in containing the virus infection. However, the present lockdown, which is a timely move by the government, will further affect the already depressing performance of the ind+ustry," she added.
Talking to the FE, Faruque Hassan, the BGMEA president-elect and managing director of Giant Group, also echoed Ms Huq, and added that many factories remained closed after the government announced lockdown in March 20.
Regarding prices, he said although apparel prices slightly increased recently, followed by cotton and yarn price hike, RMG unit price was still below the cost.
Knitwear items' earnings grew followed by the lockdown-induced demand in importing countries, he added.
Meanwhile, earnings from exports of jute and jute goods increased by 22.94 per cent to $953.57 million during the July-March period of this fiscal, up from $775.63 million over the corresponding period of last fiscal.
Agricultural products' export earnings grew by 3.43 per cent to $746.72 million during July-March of FY 21.
Export earnings of frozen and live fish decreased by 8.66 per cent to $367.74 million.
Pharmaceuticals export income stood at $119.01 million, marking a 12.04 per cent growth.
On the other hand, leather and leather goods earned $684.84 million, registering a 0.53 per cent decline.
Plastic products witnessed a growth of 1.86 per cent to $84.66 million during the July-March period of FY 21, according to the EPB data.
Munni_fe@yahoo.com