During January-June this year, 76.68 crore pieces were shipped from the country at a value of $2.83 billion (Rs 12,094.75 crore) against 71.05 crore pieces worth $2.55 billion (Rs 10,224.25 crore), an Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) data said today. In rupee terms, the growth was 18.24 per cent and in volume it was 7.92 per cent.

During June this year, exports were up by 8.7 per cent to $465.6 million (Rs 2017.79 crore) against $428 million (Rs 1,828.74 crore) in June 1998. At the same time, the volume increased by 1.2 per cent to 11.47 crore pieces from 11.33 crore pieces.

During the first half of the current year, the unit value of realisation increased by 3.6 per cent from $3.59 to $3.70 dollars. Exports to the US in the first half increased 4.93 per cent in value to $864.9 million (Rs 3,691.67 crore)from $824.3 million (Rs 3,311.17 crore). The volume during the period increased to 15.96 crore pieces from 14.37 crore pieces.

During June, exports to the US declined to 2.29 crore pieces at a value of $135 million (Rs 588.69 crore) against 2.41 crore pieces worth $146 million (Rs 627.97 crore) in the same period last year.

Exports to the European Union (EU) in the first half increased by 8.50 per cent to $1.02 billion (Rs 4,372.9 crore) against $944.7 million (Rs 3,779.62 crore) during the same period a year ago. In volume, it was up 7.31 per cent to 36.36 crore pieces from 33.79 crore pieces.

Shipments to EU in June was down in volume to 4.83 crore pieces from 5.08 crore pieces. In value, it was up to $146.5 million (Rs 634.80 crore) from $143.4 million (Rs 613.69 crore).

Exports to Canada during January-June increased substantially by 21.9 per cent to $122.4 million (Rs 522.64 crore) from $101 million (Rs 405.18 crore). In volume, it was up by a whopping 37 per cent to 3.92 crore pieces against2.86 crore pieces during same period a year ago.

Exports to countries restricting garment imports increased by 7.6 per cent in value, while to Outside Bilateral Agreement (OBA) countries, it was up by 20.69 per cent.

For the April-June fiscal period this year, garment exports showed a rise of 5.31 per cent with 32.87 crore garments being exported at a value of Rs 124.54 billion (Rs 5355.04 crore).