Bangladesh imported a lower volume of woven fabrics in the months between January and July 2023, as they have increased sourcing fabrics from domestic fabric manufacturers.
Imports of woven fabrics by the South Asian country dropped, nearly 26 percent in the first seven months of the current year as against the same months of the previous calendar year.
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) data reveals that between January and July 2023, the import of woven fabrics reached 269,667 tons as against 364,232 tons in the same period of 2022.
Experts attribute the same to an increase in domestic production of woven fabrics as well as global garment buyers seeking shorter lead times in the delivery of garments.
“Nowadays, global clothing brands and retailers have almost halved lead times to between 50 and 60 days as against 90 to 120 days earlier,” media reports stated.
To export garments within these shortened lead times, Bangladeshi apparel exporters have started sourcing woven fabrics from local manufacturers.
Additionally, international brands and retailers so that these garments reach them faster, are now relying on air shipments, which are expensive as against the normal delivery through sea shipments.
Experts also add that due to these shortened lead times, it would be impossible to import fabrics as it takes 30 to 45 days from placing the order to receiving the fabrics when it is imported from other countries.
Bangladeshi woven fabric imports drop almost 26%
