Exports of readymade garments to quota countries registered a decline of 4.62 per cent in quantity terms to 125.9 mn pieces while it witnessed a marginal increase of 0.25 per cent in value terms at $488 mn in February 2004.Reflecting a downtrend, garment exports to the US decreased by 5.95 per cent in terms of quantity and 10.02 per cent in value terms in February 2004.Exports to the US stood at 393 mn pieces valued at $186.8 mn as compared to 420 mn pieces valued at 207.6 mn dollar in February 2003 according to Apparel Export Promotion Council data.While garment exports to the European Union declined in quantity terms by 2.78 per cent it witnessed an increase of 10.51 per cent in value terms.Exports to the EU stood at 805 mn pieces valued at $282.8 mn in February 2004 as against 828 mn pieces valued at $255.9 mn in February 2003.Following the trend in the US, exports to Canada also showed a decline of 18.06 mn units in terms of quantity and 21.03 per cent in terms of value at 59 mn worth $18.4 mn in the period under review. Garment exports to quota countries during the first eleven months (April-February) of the financial year 2003-04 decreased by 3.73 per cent in terms of quantity while witnessing an increase of 4.28 per cent in terms of value at 1056.1 mn pieces valued at $4260.8 mn.Hit by appreciation in rupee value against dollar and preferential treatment to least developed countries, garment exports to us declined by 10.32 per cent in terms of quantity and 8.07 per cent in terms of value at 349.4 mn pieces valued at $1777.7 mn.Garment exports to EU during the period under review increased by 1.75 per cent in quantity terms and 17.96 per cent in value terms at 656 mn pieces valued at $ 2320.3 mn.Exports to Canada during April-February 2003-04 amounted to 50.3 mn pieces valued at 162.8 mn, a decrease of 19.26 per cent in terms of quantity and 12.14 per cent in value as compared with the corresponding period in the previous fiscal.
