Bangladesh Apparel Exporters Received Spot Orders Worth US$ 57.3 Million

Bangladesh apparel exporters received spot orders worth US$ 57.3 million at the recently concluded 24th Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (BATEXPO) 2013, which is 5 percent less compared to last year’s event.

Apparel exporters received purchase orders that totaled around US$ 57-58 million, of which the spot orders are around US$ 57.3 million, and stock lot sales worth US$ 1.3 million, at the event.

In 2012, the expo managed to generate purchase orders of US$ 61.7 million, of which US$ 6.02 million were received from spot orders, whereas the stock lot sales figure stood at US$ 1.42 million.

According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters' Association (BGMEA), which organizes the expo, a total of 136 foreign buyers from 34 countries and 2,556 buyers’ representatives visited the Batexpo 2013, whereas during last year around 159 buyers and 2,846 representatives from foreign and local buyers visited the show.

Around 80 stalls, including 20 by foreign apparel makers, were set up at this year’s show to display products at the three-day expo.

BGMEA vice president Shahidullah Azim said the spot orders have decreased because buyers were reluctant to come to the country fearing political uncertainty in the coming days.

This year the target set for the expo could also not be achieved due to political instability, he added.

Last year, a total of 13,180 visitors visited the country's biggest apparel show, including 159 foreign buyers and 2,846 buyers' representatives.