A ship is seen at the Chattogram port, trade through which has fallen of late due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Rajib Raihan

Export earnings made another record as it grew 48.27 per cent year-on-year to hit $4.90 billion in December 2021 thanks to a strong rebound in apparel shipment.

The previous records were $4.72 billion in October last year, $4.16 billion in September and $4.04 billion in November, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.

The export earnings have been setting newer records almost every month because of higher shipment of goods, especially garment items with the reopening of the western economies from the severe fallouts of Covid-19 pandemic.

Exporters attributed the government's decision of allowing factories to run during the peak time of Covid-19 to the significant rise in shipment as the buyers restored their confidence on Bangladesh.

The December's export figure is also 25 per cent higher than the monthly target of $3.91 billion.

Also in periodic comparison, the earning grew by 28.41 per cent to $24.69 billion between July and December, the first six months of the current fiscal year.

Between July and December, garment export grew by 28.02 per cent year-on-year to $19.90 billion.

Of the amount earned from the garment shipment, $11.16 billion came from knitwear, a 30.91 per cent rise year-on-year.

In the period, $8.73 billion came from woven, which is also 24.50 per cent year-on-year.

"The upward trend of garment export will continue up to June this year as we booked volume of work orders," said Faruque Hassan, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

The buyers have also increased the prices of per unit garment items between 10 per cent and 12 per cent and also the volume increased by 15 per cent over the last few months, he said.

However, the real value of cutting and making charge did not increase, he said. The international retailers and brands increased the prices of garment items mainly because of hikes in raw materials' price and freight charge, Hassan said.