Glass industry meets 95pc local demand
The local multi-billion taka glass industry that sprang up in a span of three years now exports produces to a number of countries after meeting around 95 per cent of the domestic demand.
According to industry insiders, a growth in real estate business and construction of huge establishments has helped the industry flourish.
The present market size of the country's four glass manufacturing units is around Tk 300 crore.
These factories, with a capacity of producing 250 tonnes of glass a day, are Nasir Glass Industry, PHP Float Glass Industries Limited, Usmania Glass Sheet Factory Ltd and MAB Glass Industries.
Of these, Nasir Glass Industry and PHP Float Glass Industries Limited started commercial production in 2005.
The sector people said by the end of 2002, Bangladesh's entrepreneurs started thinking about manufacturing glass locally noticing the growth of high-rise buildings and the dearth of quality glass. Previously the country was fully dependent on imported glass, whereas it now imports only 5 per cent of its demand for coloured and luxurious designed glass from China, Thailand and Indonesia.
Among the local industries, Nasir and PHP are producing float glass and the rest are producing sheet glass.
Palash Ahmed, GM of Nasir Group, said this industrial unit started its journey with an investment of Tk 300 crore, which now holds more than 40 percent of the total market share.
He said his company produces every year around 73000 tonnes of glass, including float, shades (commonly known as mirror), tempered and reflective ones.
A director of PHP Float Glass Industries Limited claimed that his company is the first one that manufactures the float glass with the thickness ranging from 2mm to 12mm.
He said his company produces around 55000 tonnes of float glass per annum and it now puts its efforts for capacity building.
Most of the raw materials, including dolomite, limestone and chemicals, for float and sheet glass need to be imported from abroad. However, the specialised sand, another essential material for producing glass, is available in the local market.
The local glass companies are also exporting their produces mainly to South Asian countries, including India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Palash Ahmed said apart from exports to these countries, his company eyes South Korea as its next export destination.
Despite all successes, the industry as a whole is faced with some difficulties, which, according to insiders, need to be addressed.
The Nasir Group general manager identified the weak transportation system as a major problem in the sector.
He also urged the government to take necessary measures to ease the border difficulties to smoothen the shipment of consignments, as glasses are usually exported through borders.
Rakib Un Nabi, manager of Usmania Glass Sheet Factory Ltd, a famous sheet glass producer, suggested the government provide export incentives for the sector at an enhanced rate, citing the example of China who gives 25 percent incentives to such a sector.
Recently, the commerce ministry said the government is considering giving 10 percent incentives on exporting sectors, which, the industry people hope, would help the sector boom.
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