<p>In what could be seen as a concerning trend for the financially stressed textile industry, the apparel imports from Bangladesh, the largest exporter to India, have been increasing. Imports from Bangladesh have gone up by 17% from April to August in 2019 as compared to the corresponding period last year. </p>.<p>Government data in a report by The Clothing Manufacturing Association of India (CMAI) suggests exports from countries like Vietnam and Hong Kong are also on the rise, having seen a significant increase of 45% and 50% respectively in the concerned period. </p>.<p>India’s apparel imports from Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have shown a decline of 2% from April-August this year.</p>.<p>Rahul Mehta, President, CMAI told <span class="italic">DH</span> that “Low-cost imports from countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh are worrying because that is impacting the smaller players of the industry and 80% of the industry is still in the MSME sector.”</p>.<p>Mehta also explained the entry of China in the picture, saying that the FTAs with Bangladesh are encouraging duty-free imports of Chinese fabrics, with Bangladesh importing duty-free fabrics from China, adding value, and exporting duty-free to India.</p>.<p>With Sri Lanka, India has a duty free agreement, but only up to 8 million pieces. Such regulations, says Mehta, seem to be the pertinent course of action.</p>.<p>CMAI has also pointed it out that the import of readymade garments from Bangladesh has been growing at 50-80% per year, with current imports being close to about $375-$400 million. It is the trend and the rate of growth which is alarming. If this continues, the imports, just from Bangladesh, will reach $3.6 billion by 2025, said the association.</p>
<p>In what could be seen as a concerning trend for the financially stressed textile industry, the apparel imports from Bangladesh, the largest exporter to India, have been increasing. Imports from Bangladesh have gone up by 17% from April to August in 2019 as compared to the corresponding period last year. </p>.<p>Government data in a report by The Clothing Manufacturing Association of India (CMAI) suggests exports from countries like Vietnam and Hong Kong are also on the rise, having seen a significant increase of 45% and 50% respectively in the concerned period. </p>.<p>India’s apparel imports from Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have shown a decline of 2% from April-August this year.</p>.<p>Rahul Mehta, President, CMAI told <span class="italic">DH</span> that “Low-cost imports from countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh are worrying because that is impacting the smaller players of the industry and 80% of the industry is still in the MSME sector.”</p>.<p>Mehta also explained the entry of China in the picture, saying that the FTAs with Bangladesh are encouraging duty-free imports of Chinese fabrics, with Bangladesh importing duty-free fabrics from China, adding value, and exporting duty-free to India.</p>.<p>With Sri Lanka, India has a duty free agreement, but only up to 8 million pieces. Such regulations, says Mehta, seem to be the pertinent course of action.</p>.<p>CMAI has also pointed it out that the import of readymade garments from Bangladesh has been growing at 50-80% per year, with current imports being close to about $375-$400 million. It is the trend and the rate of growth which is alarming. If this continues, the imports, just from Bangladesh, will reach $3.6 billion by 2025, said the association.</p>
