According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the country fetched export earnings worth US $ 8365.53 million during July-April period of 2005-06 fiscal year as against $ 6961.17 million in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

The EPB officials attributed the growth to substantial export performances and increase in export volumes, especially in knitwear and woven items.

"After the quota phaseout, our garment manufacturers have upped their competitiveness, resulting in increase in export volumes," Monoj Kumar Roy, director of EPB, said.

"EU and the US have imposed some restrictions on the garments of China in their markets that also contributed to the growth of Bangladeshi export," he added.

Export performances in woven garments, knitwear, leather, petroleum by products, textile fabrics, bi-cycle, raw jute, jute goods, frozen food, foot wear, chemical products were better.

In the month of April export earning reached 846.17 million, posting a 29.87 percent growth.

Export of woven garments fetched $3256.29 million, showing an 11.99 percent growth while knitwear ($ 3007.00 million) recorded a 32.86 percent growth. Leather export amounted to 205.79 million, showing a 15.35 percent growth.

Frozen food, a very significant export item, earned $ 358.47 million, posting a 6.15 percent growth. However, the export was 0.51 percent below the export target for the period.

Export of raw jute increased significantly during the period, fetching $ 125.90 million that shows 49.31 percent growth while jute goods earned $301.20 million. Although export of jute goods rose by 20.23 percent the item fell short of target by 5.96 percent.