Leather exports in Bangladesh increased by 26.4%

According to the statistics of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh's total leather exports rose by 26.4% to US$446.9 million in the first seven months of fiscal year 2011-2012 (July to January). At the same time, the leather export volume was 353.5 million U.S. dollars.

The breakthrough shows that compared to $149.5 million, Bangladesh’s finished leather exports valued at $180.1 million, an increase of 22.4%. At the same time, exports of footwear products rose by 28.9% from the same period last year to US$222.4 million. Leather handbags and leather wallets increased by 32.3% year-on-year to US$41.5 million and US$31.4 million, respectively.

Bangladesh has set a target for the leather industry to export from US$ 792.3 million for the period from 2011 to 2012 (July to June), and US$ 651.1 million for the fiscal year 2010–2011.

According to the current export situation, Bangladesh’s export target will reach approximately US$770 million. Bangladesh’s exports only reached US$120 million a year ago, so this figure of export growth cannot be underestimated.