The country's leading corporate houses are taking initiatives for expansion of their units to occupy a large portion of international plastic products' market, insiders at the export-oriented sector said.
Lately, a good number of international buyers, comprising those both in traditional and non-traditional markets, have turned towards Bangladesh coming away from China, India and other countries.
Due to their high quality, the demand for Bangladeshi plastic products has been on the rise in international and local markets, sources close to the sector noted.
According to Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA), most of the big players including RFL, Bengal Plastic Industries Ltd, Talukdar Plastic Company Limited, Tanin Bestware Plastic, Bengal Pacific (Pvt.) Ltd, F.H. International Ltd, and Unique Plastic Ind. Ltd. are also going to expand their plastic goods industries.
"In order to meet the increasing demand of international and local markets, we are going to expand our production capacity," chairman of Thai Delux Plastic Industry KM Iqbal Hossain told the FE.
He said Bangladeshi plastic products' demand was increasing significantly in the world market due to their better quality. "We want to seize the opportunity."
According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, traditionally Bangladeshi plastic goods are going to Japan, UK, Poland, China, India, Belgium, France, Germany, Canada, Spain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Italy, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Kamruzzaman Kamal, marketing director of Pran-RFL Group told the FE that a good number of export orders were being shifted to Bangladesh from some destinations. His company was also going to expand its production capacity, he added.
He added that in order to meet the international and local demands, they were now going for high-value products.
EPB data shows that Bangladesh exports plastic products which include shopping bags, butcher bags, PVC pipe, polyethylene sheets, ball-point pens, tooth brushes, toys, hangers, hand gloves, artificial flowers, table covers, computer accessories, waste baskets and wall clocks.
Former president of BPGMEA Shamim Ahmed told the FE, "We are trying to expand our export destinations because last year export orders from newer markets for our products increased significantly."
He said the country's plastic goods exporters were now observing a lucrative market in the new destinations and were trying to seize the opportunity.
At present, there are about 5,000 plastic goods industries in the country, of which 3,500 are small and 1,500 are of medium size.
Of the plastic factories, 65 per cent are located in Dhaka, while 20 per cent in Chittagong, 10 per cent in Narayanganj and 5 per cent in Khulna, Comilla, Bogra and Rajshahi.
KDS, DAF, RFL, Bengal, Partex, Talukdar, Unique and Anwar are among the leading brands in the country.
Jasim Uddin, president of BPGMEA, told the FE, "In order to demonstrate our capacity, we will hold a four-day-long exhibition titled Bangladesh International Plastics, Packaging, Printing, and Food Processing Industry Fair - IPF 2014, from today (Thursday) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka."
He said the plastic goods industry has become a major export earning source for the country, but to retain the momentum of growth the industry requires government support.
At the plastic goods fair, more than 300 stalls from different countries including Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and U.A.E will showcase a comprehensive range of industrial products, technologies, and services to meet the needs of the industry's upgrading.
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data shows Bangladesh has exported plastic goods worth $45.83 million in July-January of the current fiscal year 2013-14.
The sector made shipment of goods worth nearly $84.51 million in last 2012-13 fiscal year, according to EPB.
BD plastic goods factories mull expansion to grab overseas mkt
Shah Alam Nur | Published: February 20, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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