Coronavirus: BGMEA says orders worth $3.15 billion cancelled so far

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has said buyers have thus far cancelled orders worth $3.15 billion in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. 

BGMEA said on Sunday that 1,134 factories have reported that 975.2 million pieces of ready-made garment (RMG) products, worth $3.15 billion, have either been cancelled or held up until 10am, reports UNB.

These cancellations will impact approximately 2.25 million Bangladeshi RMG workers, the organization said.

Earlier, on April 2, BGMEA reported cancellations worth $3 billion, following the outbreak.

Before that, on March 23, BGMEA President Dr Rubana Huq stated that buyers had thus far cancelled orders worth $1.48 billion.

In a video message, she said: “We’re facing a dire situation. All the buyers from different places, countries, and continents are suspending the orders.”

The BGMEA and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) announced closure of all factories until April 25 in a joint statement on Friday, urging factory authorities to inform respective trade bodies if any factory office remains open for disbursing wages and other payments during the period.

Coronavirus has infected 621 people and killed 34 people so far in Bangladesh.

Globally, the disease has infected 1,784,751 people and killed 109,011 people thus far.