According to a report from the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), exports totalled $2.995 billion for the six months to December 2001 - 16.45% below the stated target of $3.585 billion. Leather exports fell by 13.34% in the six-month period to $100.42 million compared with the same period in 2000, and were more than 30% below the target of $144 million.

The report said that the month of October saw a massive shortfall in exports following the tragic terrorist attacks on the US on September 11 terrorist attack on the US in the global economic scenario. However, exports began to pick up from October’s low of $399 million, increasing to $535.26 million for the month of December, 2001. Figures for January 2002 show exports up again, with a total of $621.68 million.