Apparel exporters for further enhancing shipment to German market

As the United Kingdom market is reopening slowly after relaxation of lockdown imposed there to mitigate Covid-19 attack, Bangladesh is emphasising on its shipment to Germany for apparel products.

The export to Germany has decreased from $1,014.98million in July-August of FY 2020-21 to $903million in FY ‘21-22 (year on year) which shows a 10.25 percent de-growth, according to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

In FY 20-21 Bangladesh exported $5.6 billion worth of products to Germany which was $5.8 billion in FY 2018-19 pre-pandemic year and $4.7 billion in FY 2019-20, BGMEA data show.

“Germany is a very potential and big market where demand for cotton based garments is higher than other markets. So, we can easily tap potentials of that market as we have the necessary infrastructure and capacity in cotton made production,” said Shahidullah Azim, Senior Vice President of BGMEA.

Although shipments to Germany and UK markets progressed steadily, Bangladesh could not get back to the pre-pandemic level yet, he told The Business Insider Bangladesh on Monday.

He, however, attributed the stable German economy to the rise in Bangladesh’s exports there. As the demand for man made fabric and technical apparels is going up, the country can be a boon for Bangladesh, he said.

BGMEA president Faruque Hassan in a recent meeting with a German envoy sought tax free benefits for 12 years after the country’s LDC graduation.

He said, “We have to develop technology and infrastructure to enhance the participation in the non-cotton market. Germany may be a potential area for the country where we can export more value-added products”.

In a recent webinar on potentiality of technical textile, experts recommended Bangladesh to expand the market in Germany.

Charles Dagher (Consultant, GFA) said in the post covid world, technical textile’s demand will grow fast. As an exporting country, Bangladesh should participate in the competition.