PHOTO: PALASH KHAN

REFAYET ULLAH MIRDHA

International textile and garment machinery sellers are optimistic about a rebound in their business in Bangladesh this year as the global clothing supply chain is recovering from the sluggish trend.

Apparel sales slowed significantly in 2023 because of a fall in demand from the end consumers amid higher inflationary pressure stemming from the severe fallouts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, they said.

But this year, machinery sellers are getting a lot of inquiries from the garment makers thanks to a rise in work orders from the international clothing retailers and brands in recent months, they said.

That is why, the international machinery sellers are optimistic for 2024 as the higher apparel export means a rise in sales of textile and garment machinery.

A group of global textile and garment machinery sellers and their local agents made the comments while talking to The Daily Star at the ongoing 18th Dhaka International Textile and Garment Machinery Exhibition.

The four-day event began at the International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka yesterday.

Abu Taleb Bhuiyan, CEO of Best Tex International, the Bangladesh agent of six international denim textile and garment machinery companies, said his sales decreased nearly 40 percent year-on-year to 8.5 million euros in 2023.

However, the goal for 2024 is to sale 20 million euros worth of machinery in Bangladesh, Bhuiyan said while sitting in his booth at the DTG exhibition.

“All over the world the business is dull, but Bangladesh is a place of hope as the machinery business is growing here and will grow this year,” said Hasan Bozkurt, a representative of the export department of Turkish company Karmak.

Last year, Karmak sold 20 units of machinery mainly in washing and dyeing segments and expects to sale 50 this year in Bangladesh, which is its biggest market.

Karmak has an office in Dhaka and it has been selling machinery in Bangladesh for the last 10 years.

Bozkurt’s Bangladeshi colleague Kazi Tawfiq-uz-Zaman said local garment and textile manufacturers are mainly looking for sustainable machinery, which consume low amount of water and energy.