Bangladesh’s export witnessed 2.07 percent growth riding on the moderate performance of the key knitwear, leather and leather products touching $ 5,142.24 million in the first two months (July-August) of the current fiscal (2014-15).

The figure is, however, 9.16 percent lower than the strategic target of $ 5,660.60 million, according to the latest figures released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

The single month export earnings in August totaled $ 2,159.50 million with a 7.25 percent growth but fell 17.46 percent short of the target.

The export target for the current fiscal (FY15) was set at $ 33,200 million. Total exports during the last fiscal (FY14) reached $ 30,186.62 million.

According to the EPB statistics, knitwear fetched the bulk of the earnings during the July-August period with $ 2206.34 million, representing a 4.97 percent growth over the same period (July-August) last year while woven garments earned $ 2025.42 million, a drop by 1.60 percent and export of home textiles totaled $ 115.99 million with a fall of 0.79 percent.

During the two-month period July-August, exports of jute and jute goods totaled $ 115.95 million, registering an 11.27 percent plunge. Raw jute exports fetched $ 12.44 million with 10.50 percent decline; jute yarn and twine $ 76.67 million; jute sacks and bags $ 16.82 million; and other items brought in some $ 10.02 million.

Export of man-made filaments and staple fibers totaled $ 13.72 million while other manufactured products earned $ 21.23 million.

Specialized textiles including terry towel, special woven fabric and knitted fabrics marked a negative growth of 28.74 percent earning $ 14.68 million in July-August. Export of handicrafts totaled $ 1.27 million;