Acute load-shedding taking toll on garment sector: BKMEA

Acute load-shedding is severely affecting garment production in the country, which in turn is creating serious challenges for the timely shipment of goods, said Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).

The power situation remains concerning at present, with load-shedding averaging two to three hours and reaching up to six to eight hours in some areas, he said at a press conference held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

Delays in production and shipments caused by load-shedding are leading to additional costs such as air shipments or discounts, Hatem said.

At the same time, factories must pay workers even during production downtime, thereby increasing overall costs, he added.

Rising fuel and transportation costs have further compounded the situation, as many factories are facing challenges in obtaining diesel for running generators, the association president said.

He also noted that the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation had instructed that fuel should not be supplied in containers, while the district administration was monitoring the matter and imposing fines where necessary.

Under such circumstances, transporting generators to filling stations to collect fuel is not a practical solution, he added.

Hatem said overall production costs have increased by at least 20 percent, but exporters are unable to pass on the additional costs to buyers as prices are fixed in advance.

Meanwhile, global demand has declined, leading buyers to reduce order placements.

He said exports have been declining in recent months, while factories are currently operating at only 50–60 percent of their capacity.

At the press conference, the BKMEA president also announced that a four-day Bangladesh International Textile, Knitting and Garment Industry Exhibition (BTKG Expo 2026) will begin in Dhaka on April 29 and continue until May 2.

The BKMEA and Inforchain Digital Technology Co Ltd are jointly organising the exhibition at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB).

The organisers said more than 1,000 exhibitors from around 30 countries are expected to participate in the show.

Hatem also said the global fashion industry is rapidly moving towards fast fashion, recycling, and circularity, making technological advancement essential.

The primary objective of the exhibition is to familiarise entrepreneurs in the sector with such technologies, he added.

BKMEA Executive President and convenor of BTKG Expo 2026, Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, said that despite the ongoing challenges, such initiatives would encourage investment.

He also said that showcasing new technologies could inspire the emergence of new entrepreneurs.

Companies from Bangladesh as well as Canada, China, Taiwan, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates will showcase their products and technologies at the exhibition.

The event will feature modern textile machinery, dyes and chemicals, knitting and weaving technologies, embroidery, cutting and sewing equipment, and washing and dry-cleaning technologies.

Regarding the ongoing fuel crisis, Ehsan said adequate fuel supply is yet to be ensured at all levels despite the introduction of fuel cards. While supply has normalised in some areas, shortages persist in others, he added.

He further said that due to the global economic slowdown, consumer spending has declined in key markets, including the European Union, affecting apparel demand. As a result, order volumes have decreased globally, not just in Bangladesh.

The organisers of the expo said three seminars would be held alongside the exhibition, jointly organised by the BKMEA, BUTEX, and Textile Today, focusing on the current state of the industry, technological advancements, and future strategies.

The exhibition will remain open to visitors daily from 11am to 7pm. Among others, Inforchain Digital Technology Co Ltd Executive Director Spencer Lin and Alliant Ltd CEO Rubaiyat Ahsan were present at the press conference.