The apex garment exporters’ body, BGMEA, on Tuesday apprised the global apparel buyers of the prevailing energy situation and requested up to two weeks of extension for goods delivery where needed.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) also informed them that the ongoing gas supply crisis would gradually improve starting next week.
BGMEA president Mahmud Hasan Khan made the observation and request at a meeting with the buyers' forum held virtually on Tuesday.
Talking to the FE after the meeting, he said representatives from about two dozen of global apparel buyers, including H&M, Kiabi, Decathlon, among others, were present at the virtual meeting.
“We are informed by the concerned authority that the prevailing gas crisis would start improving from August 08 and so convey the same to the buyers,” he told the FE.
He also added that he requested the buyers to extend goods delivery time up to two weeks considering the ongoing gas supply crisis for the last two weeks.
Though they (buyers) did not directly respond to the request, he said, however, they assured of considering the justified ones as goods delivery doesn’t depend only on gas but on many other issues.
The virtual meeting came at a time when the industry is reeling from poor gas supply, forcing factories to use up to 70 per cent of production capacity, which also concerns many buyers over making timely shipments by local suppliers.
A good number of exporters also expressed concern over losing fresh work orders, while some fear shifting a portion of orders to other destinations due to the gas supply crunch.
The BGMEA president at a programme also said: “Due to the gas problem that has been going on for the last two weeks, our production capacity has decreased by about 30 per cent to 40 per cent.”
One of the losses because of the gas crisis that they have suffered is financial loss, he said, adding they are more concerned that the confidence of the buyers is not lost.
“We held a meeting so that buyers do not get panicked and do not get any wrong message,” he added.
He further said some factories announced three- to four-day unscheduled holidays to cope with the persistent energy shortage.
