Thanks to continuing decline in exports as well as low demand in the domestic market, a return to normalcy for Bangladesh’s leather and leather goods industry seems far off, underlined news reports quoting experts and industry insiders.

As per latest available reports, the sector’s export earning between July and September was down 11.49 per cent and totalled US $ 225.15 million — during the July-September period of the ongoing fiscal, leather footwear shipment declined 6.83 per cent, leather shipments declined by 22.45 per cent year-on-year while that of leather goods fell by 17.49 per cent — compared to what was US $ 254.3 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The industry still is in a vulnerable position as domestic demand has also fallen, reportedly stated the Chairman and Managing Director of Jennys Shoes, Nasir Khan, who went on to add that he had to shut 40 out of 65 outlets as operational cost exceeded revenue earning.

He further added that due to the pandemic which was at its peak earlier this year, exporters had to count loss as far as winter orders are concerned.

However, Nasir expressed hope of getting some orders for next summer.