http://www.theindependentbd.com/business/finance/29117-leather-exports-see-recovery-after-recession.html
Leather exports see recovery after recession
AKRAM HOSSAIN
Dhaka, Jan 14: The country’s leather sector is moving swiftly to overcome the loss of sales caused by the global financial recession, taking advantage of surging international demand for leather and leather goods. The latest data published on the website of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) showed that the country’s leather export earnings rose to US$ 128.72 million in the first half of the current fiscal year 2010-11 from $ 98.06 million in the corresponding period of the previous year—an increase of 31.35 per cent.
The EPB data revealed that the leather export target for the July-December 2010 period was fixed at $ 139.33 million but leather exporters could ship goods worth only $ 128.27 million, which was 7.62 per cent lower than the target for that period.
An analysis of the EPB data showed that the country’s leather product export earning was behind target mainly owing to lower earnings from finished leather exports.
According to EPB data, total export earning of the leather products was $ 25.34 million in July-Dec, 2010 against the target for the corresponding period of $ 16.53 million, or 53.30 per cent higher than the target.
Exports of leather product were 171.31 per cent higher than earnings of the same period of the previous year as the export earnings for that period (July-Dec) was $ 9.34 million.
Md. Sahin Ahmed, Chairman of Bangladesh Tanners Association, told The Independent that the country’s export earning of finished leather saw ups and downs in the past few years but earnings were expected to increase from now on mainly due to increasing global demand for raw hides and skins.
Sahin Ahmed expressed the hope that the finished leather exporters could achieve the export target of $ 293.94 million for finished leather in the fiscal year 2010-11, as the supply of hides and skins was good enough during the recent Eid-ul-Azha.
Four months months ago, when cattle in the whole country was affected by the anthrax scare, tanners were concerned over supply of hides and skins as the number of slaughtered animals was meager during that time, he said.
These worries ended as supply of hides and skins after the recent Eid-ul-Azha shot up, he added.
Export earning from leather products was lower than export earnings from finished leather due to the lack of technical knowledge, poor products and skilled workforce, he said.
“Many investors would invest in Bangladesh to set up modern leather product manufacturing company if bank loan with low interest rate, smooth supply of gas and electricity side by side establishment of training institutions ensured,” said an official of Bangladesh Finished Leather and Leather goods and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLLFEA).
To make quality leather product we need modern technology and trained workforce which facilitate to increase the export earnings of Bangladesh, the official of BFLLFEA said.
Despite of having a college of leather technology in Bangladesh, we could not get sufficient number of skilled workforces for this sector due to the shortage of necessary teachers in that college, the official said.
“If we get expert workers for both leather and leather product industry, country’s export earnings of these sectors would tremendously increase,” said the official.
Leather exports see recovery after recession
AKRAM HOSSAIN
Dhaka, Jan 14: The country’s leather sector is moving swiftly to overcome the loss of sales caused by the global financial recession, taking advantage of surging international demand for leather and leather goods. The latest data published on the website of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) showed that the country’s leather export earnings rose to US$ 128.72 million in the first half of the current fiscal year 2010-11 from $ 98.06 million in the corresponding period of the previous year—an increase of 31.35 per cent.
The EPB data revealed that the leather export target for the July-December 2010 period was fixed at $ 139.33 million but leather exporters could ship goods worth only $ 128.27 million, which was 7.62 per cent lower than the target for that period.
An analysis of the EPB data showed that the country’s leather product export earning was behind target mainly owing to lower earnings from finished leather exports.
According to EPB data, total export earning of the leather products was $ 25.34 million in July-Dec, 2010 against the target for the corresponding period of $ 16.53 million, or 53.30 per cent higher than the target.
Exports of leather product were 171.31 per cent higher than earnings of the same period of the previous year as the export earnings for that period (July-Dec) was $ 9.34 million.
Md. Sahin Ahmed, Chairman of Bangladesh Tanners Association, told The Independent that the country’s export earning of finished leather saw ups and downs in the past few years but earnings were expected to increase from now on mainly due to increasing global demand for raw hides and skins.
Sahin Ahmed expressed the hope that the finished leather exporters could achieve the export target of $ 293.94 million for finished leather in the fiscal year 2010-11, as the supply of hides and skins was good enough during the recent Eid-ul-Azha.
Four months months ago, when cattle in the whole country was affected by the anthrax scare, tanners were concerned over supply of hides and skins as the number of slaughtered animals was meager during that time, he said.
These worries ended as supply of hides and skins after the recent Eid-ul-Azha shot up, he added.
Export earning from leather products was lower than export earnings from finished leather due to the lack of technical knowledge, poor products and skilled workforce, he said.
“Many investors would invest in Bangladesh to set up modern leather product manufacturing company if bank loan with low interest rate, smooth supply of gas and electricity side by side establishment of training institutions ensured,” said an official of Bangladesh Finished Leather and Leather goods and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLLFEA).
To make quality leather product we need modern technology and trained workforce which facilitate to increase the export earnings of Bangladesh, the official of BFLLFEA said.
Despite of having a college of leather technology in Bangladesh, we could not get sufficient number of skilled workforces for this sector due to the shortage of necessary teachers in that college, the official said.
“If we get expert workers for both leather and leather product industry, country’s export earnings of these sectors would tremendously increase,” said the official.
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