China, the largest apparel manufacturer/exporter in the world, is witnessing in the growth of imports from Bangladesh, as in fiscal 2014-15, it rose by 26 per cent. In fiscal 2013-14, Bangladesh’s total apparel exports to China were US $241.37 million while in FY 2014-15, it was US $304.24 million.
As per the data of Export Promotion Bureau, about US $141.8 million came from knitwear exports and US $163.14 million from woven items. China’s domestic apparel market is worth US $178 billion a year. Due to duty-benefit and low production cost in Bangladesh, Chinese local garments are more than 15 per cent expensive for end-users. Demand for comparatively less price Bangladeshi sweaters and other knit items, T-shirts and shirts is high in China. China has been favouring Bangladesh to take advantage of a duty waiver enjoyed by 4,721 Bangladeshi products, most of which are garment items.
