Exports in may this year amounted to 154 million pieces valued at $601.7 million, showing a 44.47 per cent growth in dollar terms, according to figures released by Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). The total number of pieces exported in the first five months of the calendar year were 741.5 million, indicating a growth of 13.81 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year.

For April-May in the current fiscal, the export figures stood at $1034.9 million for 266.4 million pieces, it said.

Although this reflected a growth of 32.7 per cent in dollar terms, the target of 6500 million fixed for the entire financial year could be achieved to the extent of 15.92 per cent only, AEPC said. Exports to EU amounted to 335.9 million pieces valued at $926.9 million, with a growth of 7.04 per cent in terms of quantity and 5.53 per cent in terms of value in the first five months of 2000.

In comparison to the same period of the previous year, exports to Greece, Portugal, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Benelux and France have shown an increase in terms of value, whereas Germany, Finland, Austria and Italy have shown a decline. Greece has shown the highest increase of 37.04 per cent in terms of value, AEPC said.

Readymade garments exports to the US have also reported an increase with 162.4 million pieces valued at $1013 million - an increase of 18.8 per cent in terms of quantity and 38.94 per cent in terms of value. Exports to Canada have also shown a substantial improvement with a 27.59 per cent growth in quantity and 24.16 per cent growth in terms of value, when compared to the same period of 1999, aepc said. While 40.7 million pieces were exported to Canada, the exports were valued at $121.8 million, it said.

In the case of export to restricted countries, the figure touched 539 million pieces valued at $2061.7 million during January-May 2000 representing an increase of 11.73 per cent and 20.89 per cent in terms of quantity and value respectively, when comapred to January-may 1999.