Export earnings crossed six billion US dollars in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, posting a 15.13 percent growth over the same period of last fiscal.

The highest growth achieved in the last five financial years (from 1998-99 to 2002-03) was 12.43 percent in 2000-01.

Increased export volume and a recovering trend in prices in international market are key reasons behind the robust growth, officials concerned said.

Export of almost all major Bangladeshi products witnessed increase during the period and crossed their strategic export targets, they said.

During July-April period of FY04, exports fetched $6,049 million, compared with $5,255 million during the corresponding period of FY03.

Export income in April this year was $627 million, which was $532 million in the same month of last year, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

"Prices of Bangladeshi products are showing a slight recovery trend over the past few months," said Towfique Khan Majles, a director of EPB.

He said the volume of products rose by 13 percent while price index went up by 2.13 percent during the 10-month period.

Knitwear, woven garments, frozen foods, textile fabrics, ceramic tableware, agricultural products, home textiles and footwear performed very well, he added.

Knitwear products worth $1669 million were exported during the period showing a strong 25.68 percent growth and beating the target by 9.26 percent.

Woven garment exports registered a 9.78 percent growth fetching $2842 million.

Tea export amounted to $14.85 million during the period showing an 11.74 percent growth over the corresponding period of last fiscal.

The EPB director mentioned the tremendous growth in export to Canada and said the duty and quota free market access continued to increase the earnings.

Export to Canada shot up by 140 percent in 2003 as the Canadian government extended duty and quota free the market access for the least developed countries (LDCs) including Bangladesh from January 1, 2003.

In the first 10 months of FY04, frozen foods worth $307 million were exported recording the 16.15 percent growth. Leather export fetched $166 million posting a 6.25 percent growth over the same period of last fiscal.

Jute goods, raw jute, bicycle, chemical products, electronics, petroleum by-products and handicrafts could not achieve their respective targets during the period and some of them are showing negative growth trend over the past few months.

Jute goods worth $203 million were exported during July-April period missing the target by 6.57 percent. Raw jute fetched $60 million falling well behind (29.92 percent) the strategic target of $86 million.

Handicrafts worth only $2.86 million were exported during the period, showing a huge 49.47 percent shortfall from the target.