Business

Bangladesh Is Becoming An Important Exporter Of Home Textiles

Bangladesh’s home textile exports witnessed a growth of 43.28% in the recently ended fiscal year 2021-22. Home textiles is now the second highest export earner for the country, after RMG, exceeding the export target for the segment by 18.39% for 2021-22. Exports of home textile were to the tune of US$ 1.62 billion in 2021-22 fiscal year, fetching a year-on-year growth of 43.28%. According to the Export Promotion Bureau data, the sector earned US$ 1.13 billion in the last fiscal year. The promising player has also earned export earnings 18.39% up from the proposed export target set for the FY22, US$ 1.37 billion, according to the EPB data. Home textile export basket of the country includes bed linen, bedsheets, other bedroom textiles, bath linen, carpets and rugs, blankets, kitchen linen, curtains, cushions, cushion cover, and covers for quilts. Top home textile manufacturers and exporters have done exceedingly well in this segment, mainly due to the pandemic, when most people stayed at home, and demand and consumption of home textiles was thus on the rise. Some feel that demand for home textiles will not remain as high as in the last two years. Bangladesh entered the market of home textile in the 1980s and earned US$ 150 million by exporting home textile products in the FY2004-05. India, Pakistan, Turkey, China have been the top exporters of home textiles. Now Bangladesh is becoming a force to reckon with too. “There are more than 100 home textile factories in the country. But only around 40 factories are now operational in Dhaka, Gazipur and Chittagong,” said M Shahadat Hossain, president of the Bangladesh Terry Towel and Linen Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BTTLMEA). Zaber & Zubair Fabrics (Noman Group), Towel Tex, Mosharraf Group, Saad Musa Group, Alltex, ACS Textile, Apex Weaving, Regent, JK Group, Classical Home etc have established themselves as strong exporters. Among them, Noman Group’s Zaber & Zubair Fabrics is the pioneer home textile marketer in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s share in the global home textile export market is only 7%. Even though the country has immense prospects in home textile, it is still lagging behind in ensuring fair prices. M Shahadat Hossain said that the political stability of Bangladesh is good, which is instrumental for any industrial growth. “Also, government support and other factors are quite good. These factors are certainly aiding us in maintaining a steady export growth,” he added.