Exports have declined for five consecutive months

Although expatriate income, one of the two main sources of foreign exchange earnings, has increased, merchandise export earnings are now in a negative trend. Exports have been declining for five months. With exports from the top five sectors declining, the country's overall merchandise exports have fallen by about 2 percent in the first half of the current fiscal year.

Exporters say that the expectations of increased orders after the imposition of counter-tariffs in the US market have not been met. On the contrary, they are also facing competition from European Union countries.

Exports in neighboring India are also declining due to restrictions imposed by that country. Again, many exporters in the country are facing a crisis due to the strictness of the banking sector.

Meanwhile, business costs have increased due to the gas and electricity crisis as well as the increase in service prices. Overall, the commodity export sector is now under pressure.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh exported goods worth $24 billion during July-December of the current fiscal year, compared to $24.53 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

It is noteworthy that export earnings have decreased by about $530 million in the space of a year, which is 2.19 percent. In July, the first month of the current fiscal year, there was a 25 percent growth in merchandise exports. Then, it has declined for five months.