Bangladesh, April 3 -- Bangladesh's merchandise exports saw a sharp decline in March, dropping 19.78% compared to the same period last year, driven by fewer working days, weak global demand, and domestic production challenges.
Provisional data from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) shows that export earnings stood at $3.39 billion in March, down from $4.23 billion a year earlier.
Exporters said the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays reduced working days by 8 to 10 days, limiting shipment capacity.
However, industry insiders believe global factors played a larger role, including sluggish demand in key Western markets and increasing price competition.
They noted that retaliatory tariffs in the United States have led to fewer orders from American buye...