Export earnings also surpassed the target fixed for July-August by 8.32 percent, according to the latest statistics complied by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

Exports in July-August period of this fiscal stood at $1661.84 million against $1315.08 million of July-August of 2003-2004.

According to EPB statistics, Bangladesh exported goods worth $793.64 million in August 2004-05 as against $636.91 million in August last year.

Export in August surpassed the target 5.53 percent. The target for this August was $752.07 million.

Price index and export volume of Bangladeshi products rose 3.06 percent and 23.31 percent in August, EPB statistics show.

According to EPB data, knitwear export recorded a remarkable 23.77 percent growth in this July-August. Woven garment export also increased 11.97 percent.

Export earning from knitwear products was $554.19 million in July-August 2004-2005 while the amount was $364.61 million in July-August of 2003-2004. Earnings from woven garments also rose to $772.07 million from $662.57 million in July-August of 2003-04.

Among the other products that registered growth in July-August also crossed the targets are chemical products 41.32 percent, ceramic tableware 48.60 percent, and agricultural products 56.81 percent.

Leather, electronics, jute goods, handicrafts, electronics, home textiles, footwear, bicycle and other primary commodities recorded growth but failed to achieve the target.

Export earnings from frozen foods, tea, raw jute, petroleum by products, textile fabrics and computer services recorded negative growth and also failed to achieve the target.

In the month of July-August of 2004-05, leather export from Bangladesh declined 11.34 percent but 9.54 percent higher from last year.