The liquid rubber sector has huge
prospects in domestic use and exports, entrepreneurs say. They
suggest developing infrastructure and widening access to bank finance.

Bangladesh has started producing liquid rubber, enabling the country to save around Tk 170 crore in annual import bills in the next few years, said industry people.
Latex Products Limited, a joint venture company formed by Bangladesh and Swedish entrepreneurs, was set up in 2007 at Cox's Bazar. The company, first of its kind, went into limited production in November.
“We will be self-reliant in meeting demand for liquid rubber in the next three years if the industry gets attention of rubber garden owners and the government as well,” said SM Harun-ur-Rashid, the company's managing director (MD).
Liquid rubber is used in many products, including robots. However its common use is in balloons, condoms, shoes, masks, garment elastics, bags, electronics and seal products.
Bangladesh imports an average of 12,000 tonnes of liquid rubber a year from Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India to meet domestic demand.
The Latex Products MD has claimed that around 10 percent of the local demand is met by the country's lone liquid rubber producing unit, aiming to grab the total domestic market in a span of three years.
“We have a plan to meet the country's 100 percent demand in three years,” Harun-ur-Rashid said.
The official also pointed to a problem that rubber garden owners, the source of his firm's raw material, sometimes show reluctance to supply the item because of the trouble in transportation.
“We are trying to convince the garden owners to give us latex,” he added.
Monirul Hoque Bachchu, vice-president of Bangladesh Rubber Garden Owners Association, said it is tough to collect and sell latex.
He said the gardens are located in hilly areas where roads and other infrastructure facilities are nearly non-existent.
The liquid rubber sector has huge prospects in terms of its domestic use and exports, the two entrepreneurs said. Both recommended developing infrastructure and widening access to bank finance.