Exporters of ready-made garments (RMG) from Bangladesh are increasingly choosing the Maldives as a shipping route rather than the more conventional air shipment routes via Bangladesh and India. The goal of this tactical change is to save expenses and increase delivery times to European markets.
Exporters are saving over US $ 1 per kilogramme by using the Maldives, according to reports, as shipping prices have decreased from a high of US $ 6.30–US $ 6.50 per kilogramme through Dhaka to a more affordable US $ 3–US $ 3.50 via the island nation. The move coincides with efforts by Bangladesh’s RMG industry to clear a significant backlog that developed during the July and August civil disturbances that seriously impacted shipping and manufacturing.
The Maldives airport route became a feasible alternative because of the growing expenses of conventional maritime routes, according to Kabir Ahmed, head of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA). Following the interim government’s takeover, production resumed, and the daily demand for dry cargo shipments at Dhaka airport increased from 400–450 tonnes to 800–900 tonnes.
Exporters are now looking for alternate routes as a result of the Dhaka airport’s difficulties, which include high operating expenses, a lack of equipment, and poor airline connectivity. Due to a shortage of foreign exchange, many international airlines have reduced their operations in Dhaka, making the Maldives a more alluring destination.
A few airlines, like as US-Bangla, Maldivian Airlines, and Sri Lankan Airlines, operate flights from Dhaka to Malé. These flights connect to European destinations via feeder vessels that transport commodities via Colombo.
The growing demand for air shipments from Bangladesh was recognised by Faruque Hassan, the former president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). He brought up the additional strain brought on by growing maritime transportation expenses as a result of geopolitical unrest in the Red Sea region, where attacks on commercial ships have resulted in noticeably longer shipping times.
Shipping through India is now costly and ineffective due to operational issues at Indian airports like Kolkata, notwithstanding Bangladesh’s friendly relations with India. On the other hand, the Maldives provides a blend of speed and affordability, which makes it a desirable substitute for Bangladeshi exporters dealing with global supply chain issues.
