Plastic goods exports grow 45pc

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Shah Alam Nur Bangladesh's plastic goods exports rose in the first three months of the current fiscal year, aided by diversified manufacturing, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) said. Plastic products shipment surged 45.57 per cent to US$20.19 million in July-September period of 2012 financial year, compared with $ 13.87 million at the same period last fiscal, data released by the EPB showed. EPB officials said the diversified manufacturing of plastic items-from domestic articles to industrial equipment-helped Bangladesh boost exports. Bangladesh now exports plastic shopping bags, garbage bags, butcher bags, oven sacks, industrial films, PVC pipes, polythene sheet, plastic hanger, hand gloves, ropes, plastic waste, V-belt, toys, electronic switches, polyester thread, computer accessories, videoaudio cassette, melamine tableware, toothbrush, ball pen and artificial flower etc. Out of 3,000 plastic goods manufacturing companies in the country, nearly 400 are export-oriented enterprises. Plastic industrial units currently employ around half a million people, president of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) Shamim Ahmed said Saturday. He said, "Now we are exporting plastic items to Italy, New Zealand, Poland, China, the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, the USA, Canada, Spain, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other countries." The country has 3,000 plastic industries in the country, of which 70 are large, 980 are medium and 1,950 small, he said. Among the plastic industries, 65 per cent are based in Dhaka while 20 per cent in Chittagong, 10 per cent in Narayanganj and five per cent are in Khulna, Comilla, Bogra and Rajshahi, according to the BPGMEA data. He said Bangladesh does not have a polymer industry, despite the scope to use natural gas. Shamim Ahmed said withdrawal of 100 per cent bank guarantee is necessary for smooth running of plastic industries. He said process is going on to set up a plastic industrial estate, but getting environment clearance certificate should be made easier. BPGMEA officials said plastic has become an indispensable part of modern life. At the same time, its disposal is being viewed as a matter of environmental concern, since plastic is not biodegradable. Nearly all plastic packaging materials used by Bangladeshi exporters are being supplied by the local plastic industries in the form of 'deem' export. Manufacturers said the volume of plastic wastes is also increasing. At least, 60 per cent of plastic wastes are being recycled in the country, which saves about US$400 million per year cutting the import of resin.