Exports fall 13.6% in October as garment worker unrest overshadows outlook

Bangladesh’s exports took a hit in October, falling 13.64 percent year-on-year to $3.76 billion and missing the target by 28.35 percent.

Gloomy data came amid worker unrest over pay hike demands roiling the apparel sector for days.

Overall exports in the July-October period rose 3.52 percent to $17.45 billion from a year earlier, falling short of the $19.24 billion target set for the period, according to data published by the Export Promotion Bureau on Thursday.

The garment sector, which accounts for more than 80 percent of exports, posted about 6 percent growth in October, compared with more than 13 percent in September.

The sector is bracing for another downturn as violent protests by workers demanding a wage hike have continued for several days.

Many factories have been closed temporarily because of the deadly unrest, during which several plants were attacked.