Leather export falls over environmental concerns:Daily Sun

The leather sector is likely to miss the export target this fiscal as exports during the July-April period of 2014-15 FY stood at $913.91 million against the target of $1129.42 million. Sector insiders attributed the sluggish trend to a fall in export orders from the EU buyers amid the concerns over the environmental hazard created here by the leather industry. They also said although the sector h

ad all the potentials to contribute largely to the country’s economy, a fall in export order has made the sector more vulnerable. During the July-April period last fiscal, leather export fetched $927.65 million, which is 1.65 percent higher than the income in the same period this fiscal, according to Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data. Leather sector is country’s one of the highest export-earning sector. The US and EU are the biggest markets of Bangladeshi leather products. In 2013-2015 FY, leather sector fetched $505 million from experts against the target of $456 million. The sector earned $399.73 million in 2012-2013 FY. Sector insider said the EU buyers have reduced their purchases from Bangladesh amid concerns over the hazards of leather production here. They said that the sector will become vibrant once again if all the tanneries could be shifted from Hazaribagh to Savar to start shifting to an eco-friendly production system. Engineer Abu Taher, chairman of Bangladesh Leather goods and Footwear Exporters Association, said Bangladesh holds less than one percent of the global leather market and it has the potential to expand its share in the global arena. Admitting the dilapidated condition of leather sector amid the falling export income, Abu Taher said that if the sector doest not adopt an eco-friendly production system, leather export will not increase as the retailers do not prefer purchasing leather goods from Bangladesh over environmental concerns.