According to data from the General Administration of Customs (GACC), China’s combined exports of textiles, garments and accessories declined *.** per cent year on year to $***.** billion in ****, compared with $***.** billion in ****. This pullback followed a recovery in ****, when exports rose *.* per cent, after a sharp *.** per cent contraction in ****, when shipments fell to $***.** billion from $***.** billion in ****.

The **** slowdown was driven largely by a contraction in garment exports. Shipments of garments and accessories fell * per cent year on year to $***.** billion from $***.** billion, reflecting subdued apparel demand in key consumer markets, persistent inflationary pressures on discretionary spending, and continued sourcing diversification by global buyers seeking to reduce concentration risk. In contrast, exports of textile products—including yarns, fabrics and related articles—edged up *.* per cent to $***.** billion from $***.** billion, supported by steadier demand from regional manufacturing hubs and China’s competitiveness in higher-value textile intermediates.

As more than 85 ships are waiting at deep sea with around 4 million tonnes of goods, authorities are concerned over supply of essential commodities ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

This has led to fears of shortages and price hike during Ramadan.

A shortage of lightering vessels has halted unloading of goods from large ships at the outer anchorage of Chattogram sea port in Bangladesh.
This has led to fears of shortages and price hike during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
The crisis is being widely believed to be artificial created and attributed to mismanagement and misuse of ships rather than a shortage of lightering vessels.

As of January 15, 108 cargo ships were waiting at the outer anchorage and Kutubdia channel of Chattogram port, according to domestic media outlets. These ships were carrying over 4.5 million tonnes of goods.

The Ship Handling Operators and Berth Operators Association (BSHBOA) reported that each mother vessel at the outer anchorage is incurring an average demurrage of Taka 1.6 million every day.

While a mother vessel with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes can transfer goods to river ports and terminals using lightering vessels within seven to 10 days, this time has now increased to 20-30 days.

The crisis is being widely believed to be artificial created and attributed to mismanagement and misuse of ships rather than a shortage of lightering vessels.

BSHBPA president Sarwar Hossain Sagar said the lack of available lighter ships has significantly disrupted the flow of goods. While 200-300 lighter ships are needed daily for normal operations, only 30-40 are currently available, causing a near standstill in unloading activities.

Operators have called for abolishing the serial system of ships and the implementation of an open system to effectively address the crisis.

Fibre2Fashion (DS)

As labour costs rise across traditional apparel manufacturing hubs, Bangladesh is apparently quietly redefining the competitive edge that once relied on cheap manpower. Long known for its vast pool of low-cost workers, the country’s garment industry appears to be shifting towards technology and automation, signalling a strategic shift from labour-intensive production to machines, data, and speed.

Bangladesh’s garment industry is increasingly adopting automation and technology.
A study showed productivity grew 4.19 per cent annually during 2014–23, with automation-intensive segments like cutting, knitting and wet processing posting the strongest gains.
As technology adoption accelerates, policymakers now face the challenge of managing labour displacement.

Though gradual, the transformation is beginning to deliver measurable results now.

Media reports citing a study by a renowned autonomous multidisciplinary research organisation of the country, underlined that Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) sector—driven by automation and technological upgrades—achieved average annual productivity growth of 4.19 per cent between 2014 and 2023.

At first glance, these gains may seem modest, but they are significant in an industry that employs millions and underpins a substantial portion of the national economy.

The RMG sector contributes an estimated 8.5–10.5 per cent of GDP and generates 80–85 per cent of export earnings, making even incremental improvements economically meaningful.

However, the productivity gains have not been uniform. Jackets reportedly led the way with 6.59 per cent annual growth over the decade, followed by knit lingerie at 6.43 per cent. Sweaters (6.05 per cent), home textiles (5.58 per cent), and T-shirts (4.39 per cent) also posted solid gains, benefiting from mechanisation, standardisation, and process automation.

By contrast, woven shirts, woven trousers, and denim reportedly recorded more modest growth of 3 per cent, 1.15 per cent, and 1.81 per cent, largely due to lower levels of automation.

Meanwhile, the automation-intensive segments of the RMG sector delivered the strongest gains. Cutting, knitting, and wet processing reportedly recorded annual productivity growth of 11.13 per cent, 9.85 per cent, and 6.11 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, sewing—the least automated and most labour-dependent stage— reportedly posted the weakest growth at 3.57 per cent, while weaving and end finishing recorded growth of 4.43 per cent and 4.78 per cent over the decade.

The impact of technology is perhaps most visible in cutting. In the 1980s and 1990s, 10–12 workers using manual tools reportedly processed 4,000–5,000 pieces a day. Today, fully automated CAD- and CNC-driven systems allow just 2–3 operators to reportedly cut up to 10,000 pieces daily—three to five times faster and markedly more precise.

The report also notes a shift in knitting from low-gauge circular machines to microprocessor-controlled equipment with CAD/CAM integration, digital design functions, and fine-gauge capabilities, even as it highlighted wider adoption of automated cutting, semi-automatic sewing heads, laser or ozone finishing, auto-dosing dyeing systems, and digital quality-control tools across medium-scale factories.

However, most critically, the study also calls on policymakers to anticipate potential labour displacement as automation deepens and to plan for it proactively. In an industry that employs millions, the central challenge will thus be to balance efficiency gains with social stability, as the garment sector moves toward a more automated future.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)