Bicycle tyres reach foreign markets

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=110465

Bicycle tyres reach foreign markets

Sajjadur Rahman

A local company has made a foray into the international tyre market by earning Tk 35 crore in exports in a year.

Meghna Rubber Industries, a concern of Meghna Group, began exporting tyres in August 2008. The biggest slice of the company’s exports was destined to European countries, with other major export markets being Brazil and Taiwan.

“An interesting aspect of tyre exports is value addition. We use locally produced rubber, the main component of tyres,” said Mizanur Rahman, chairman of the group.

Rahman said earnings from tyre exports could reach Tk 500 crore annually in future, if the government comes forward with helping hands. “Government incentives will give us some advantage over our competitors.”

The global bicycle tyre industry is worth several billions of dollars. Only Europe consumes 3 crore bicycles annually. Additionally, bicycle tyres need to be replaced at least twice a year, according to industry people.

Meghna Rubber Industries is going to double its capacity from the present 20,000 tyres a day by this year, to meet growing export demand, said MA Halim Khan, executive director of the group.

“We have already geared production,” Khan said.

Meghna Group is also the leading manufacturer and exporter of bicycles in the country.

The export potential of bicycle tyres has cushioned local rubber manufacturers, who were previously facing slack demand for rubber.

Currently, the country is capable of producing about 30,000 tonnes of rubber a year, but some 10,000 tonnes are currently being produced a year because of limited market demand.

“We consume about 150 tonnes of rubber a month to produce bicycle tyres,” Khan said. “It could be doubled in one year.”

Motahar Billah Chowdhury, vice president of Bangladesh Rubber Garden Owners Association, said, “we are getting better prices for rubber now than two years ago because of increased use of the item by tyre manufacturers.”

“Both the demand and price of local rubber is rising,” said Chowdhury.

However, rubber producers are still getting lower prices for their produce than in India and Malaysia, the two closest markets. “We get only $1.5 for a kilogram of rubber, which costs $2.17 in India.”

sajjad@thedailystar.net

6th Dhaka in’l plastic fair kicks off in January

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/oct/16/busi.html#2

Plastic makers closely watch apparel exports
6th Dhaka in’l plastic fair kicks off in January
Staff Correspondent

Country’s plastic manufacturers and exporters are keeping a watchful eye on garment exports, as apparel industries consume huge plastic materials.

However, they are satisfied because most sub-sectors of the plastic industry are still doing well.

‘Most sub-sectors of the plastic industry are still doing well. But we are closely watching garment exports, as the apparel industries consume huge plastic materials,’ Ferdous Wahid, the president of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, told a briefing on Thursday at the office of the association.

At the briefing, the BPGMEA president announced that the sixth Dhaka International Plastic, Packaging and Printing Industrial Fair would be held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre over January 25-28, 2010.

The association leaders demanded that government speeds up development of country’s industrial infrastructures and elimination of hassles in doing business for strengthening the competitiveness of local exporters.

Plastic goods manufacturers and exporters claim that they supply polythene packaging, buttons, hangers and other plastics accessories to garment exporters worth over Tk 2000 crore every year.

The BPGMEA president informed that some two hundred enterprises half of which are from abroad are expected to attend the fair to showcase their products and services at the four-day long fair. Overseas participants will include companies from all over the world.

The fifth plastic fair held in 2008 accommodated 68 local and 68 foreign companies and that the fair was visited by more than 1.1 lakh visitors, the reporters were informed.

The Taiwan-based international event management company, Chan Chao International Company Limited, will manage the fair that will showcase latest technologies for plastics industries, raw-materials and allied products and services.

About the sub-sectors of the plastic industry, the BPGMEA president said that among the sub-sectors, PP Woven bag manufacturing and household plastic ware manufacturing ones that are doing well at the moment.

The country is experiencing increased local consumptions of household plastic appliances and furniture as well as exports of these products to neighboring India, Nepal and Myanmar.

Supershield to manufacture PVCu doors, windows

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/07/03/71756.html

Supershield to manufacture PVCu doors, windows

FE Report

Supershield Bangladesh Limited (SBL) is going to manufacture environment friendly PVCu doors and windows which are sound and heat-proof.

Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) will finance the project.

State minister for housing and public works Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan inaugurated the operations of the company Wednesday.

Stephen Evans, British High Commissioner in Bangladesh was the special guest of the inauguration programme.

SBL claimed PVCu doors and windows are highly secured, heat and sound proof. They would prevent houses, hospitals, schools, colleges and commercial organisations from sound pollution.

SBL chairman, Koyes Ahmed presided over the programme. SBL managing director Moinul Islam, production director Barry D Schmid, and REHAU director Ajay Khorana among others, spoke in the programme.

Plastic raw material maker eyes markets in Asia, Middle East

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=91927

Plastic raw material maker eyes markets in Asia, Middle East
Star Business Report

Taking advantage of the reduction in plastic item production in developed countries, including US and Europe, due to the ongoing global financial meltdown, LyondellBasell, a Dutch company who produces polypropylene and fuel, now eyes capturing Asian and Middle Eastern (ME) market, said the company’s commercial director yesterday.

“Asian countries, including Bangladesh, are emerging as plastic products makers, while the production has reduced in the rich countries, hurt by the financial crisis worldwide. This scenario has prompted us to pay special attention to these markets,” Domenico Gigliobianco told a seminar in Dhaka.

LyondellBasell and Linkers (Far East) Private Ltd jointly organised the seminar on Presence of LyondellBasell in the Region and the Value for Our Customers.

Linkers (Far East) Private Ltd, a Singapore based company, is the sole agent of LyondellBasell in Bangladesh.

The LyondellBasell official further said, “Bangladesh is an important market for us, as its RMG and plastic furniture manufacturing has experienced a huge growth, which requires polypropylene.”

Bangladesh, the plastic goods market size of which is worth Tk 4,000 crore a year, imported $40 million polypropylene, polyethylene and spherizone, the raw materials for plastic goods, last year.

Lauding that Bangladesh is doing well in plastic furniture, Gigliobianco said, “Bangladesh, who also produces plastic hangers for the RMG industry, a front on which it has showed a tremendous performance, creates a huge prospect for exporting plastic goods.”

He also pointed to the fact that the market for plastic products in Asian and Middle Eastern countries is growing at six percent in recent years. The global production of polypropylene will double and reach 3500 million tonnes by 2013.

Currently, the local plastic industry fetches Tk 600 crore a year from exports, while the country has potential to export goods worth Tk 1200 crore, according to industry insiders.

Local plastic products include hangers, various sheets, including polycarbonate sheets, PP sheets, HIPS sheets and polystyrene sheets, billboards, POPs, POSMs, dispensers, pipe, home appliances, luggage, danglers, banner stands, shop signs, kiosks, road safety signs, scroll signs, tri-vision, zigzag signs, automated moving signs and electro-magnetic signs.

Deepali Kelekar, technical and innovation manager of LyondellBasell, and Rezwanul Haque, country manager of Linkers (Far East) Private Ltd, were also present at the seminar.

New avenue emerges to boost plastic-ware export

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/may/10/busi.html#1

New avenue emerges to boost plastic-ware export
Kazi Azizul Islam

When the country’s major export earning sectors are showing downward trend owing to the impact of the current global financial crisis, plastic sector shows a significant export potential.

The sector sets on the 12th row of the country’s export earners’ listing with an earning of Tk 1,200 crore annually, is going to get a boost as two global superstores are eyeing Bangladesh market for importing plastic products.

Paris-based Carrefour, world’s second largest supermarket chain after Wal-Mart, has started negotiation with Bangladesh’s top plastic goods manufacturer, Bengal Group, to source plastic house wares.

And IKEA, the Stockholm-based global home furnishing leader, has also showed its intention to source house wares of easily shippable plastic goods from several Bangladeshi manufacturers.

‘We are in negotiation with the Carrefour on bulk sourcing of house wares,’ admitted Bengal Group vice-chairman Jashim Uddin while talking to New Age on Thursday.

Bengal Group, the licensee of the A&E, world’s number one US brand for apparel hangers, also serves the local export-oriented garment manufacturers.

After developing its base on manufacturing plastic accessories, Bengal, few years ago started manufacturing plastic furniture for domestic market under the brand name Bengal Wares. Some consignments of furniture had also been exported to Canada, UK and India.

Bengal has recently started production of house wares including baskets, buckets and treys – eying the growing local market.

`Several billion dollars worth plastic goods export is possible if the government supports the industry to feed required demands in foreign market,’ said Jashim, also the president of the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

He cited that China’s earning by exporting plastics goods including toys and house wares is not much less than her export earning from textiles or garments sectors.

He points out that the Chinese manufacturers have lost their competitive edge in many ways in recent times so there is a huge scope for Bangladesh to grab significant share in global plastic goods market.

Many global superstore chains including Wal-Mart, TESCO import apparels from Bangladesh and they would procure plastic goods too if dependable capacity on souring is developed here.

The BGGMEA a couple of weeks ago submitted a detailed proposal to the commerce ministry to take some policy measures in the upcoming export policy. The suggestions include allowing duty-free import of raw materials for plastic industry, establishing plastic testing laboratory, accelerating the implementation of proposed plastic industry estate and easing duty draw back procedures for small exporters.

Lone drug packaging plant eyes slice of global market

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2009/05/10/66042.html

Lone drug packaging plant eyes slice of global market

FHM Humayan Kabir

The country’s lone drug packaging company would spread its wings within months to grab lucrative foreign market after successfully meeting a big chunk of local demands, company chief executive said Saturday.

Shurwid Industries (Pvt) Limited last year became the first company in the country to start producing medicine packaging products when its Tk 120 million PVC blister film plant went into operation.

Company managing director Zahedul Haque said the company has now captured some 15 per cent of the domestic market and is ramping up production this year to grab a slice abroad.

“We are now producing 50 tonnes of the film a month to supply to the domestic drug companies. Our products have impressed both local pharmaceutical giants and some overseas companies,” he said.

“We have already received export orders from companies as far as United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and India. We will expand our facilities very soon to meet this growing demand,” he added.

Prior to the launching of Shurwid Industries at Gazipur Bangladeshi drug manufacturers and some specialized garment producers used to import PVC blister film to pack their products.

The country has an annual demand of about 5,000 tonnes of PVC blister film worth around eight million US dollars with about 20 per cent consumed by the apparel manufacturers.

“At present, I am supplying my products to 53 local drug companies including Beximco, Eskayef and Incepta and a specialised ready-made garment (RMG) manufacturer,” Hoque said.

“We are now negotiating with the UK, Dubai and Indian buyers. If we are successful, it will almost double our sales,” he added.

The company imports the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved raw materials from the United States and Thailand to produce world-standard blister film.

“There is huge demand of PVC blister film in the local market. I will expand my production capacity. But an unfair duty structure on the raw materials and finished products is impeding me,” Mr. Hoque said.

Barua to look into ‘plastics park’ proposal

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=115311

Barua to look into ‘plastics park’ proposal
bdnews24.com, Dhaka

The government may consider setting up an industrial park exclusively for plastics manufacturers, the industries minister said yesterday.

Dilip Barua told a meeting with the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association he would look into the proposal for a 50-acre industrial park or township.

Bangladesh produces plastic wares worth about Tk 4,000 crore annually, BPGMEA president Md Jashim Uddin told the meeting.

“Direct exports stand at about Tk 600 crore, and exports through backward linkages bring in another Tk 1,200 crore,” he said.

“And the government earns around Tk 1,200 crore as revenue from the sector,” said the association chief.

The minister also assured the industry body that the next industrial policy would be the most comprehensive in the country’s history, incorporating proposals from all concerned ministries and government departments.

“We have never had a comprehensive industry policy, though we could say we have had ‘working’ policies,” Barua.

The BPGMEA team pointed to the crying lack of coordination amongst government ministries and agencies and underscored its priority.

“We find the BOI approving proposals in some cases while the environment ministry vetoes them, putting entrepreneurs on the backfoot,” said the association’s general secretary Md Shamim Ahmed.

“To address such confusions, all orders relating to a proposal must be issued by a single authority, which should be the industries ministry.”

Plastic products earn Tk 1,636 crore from export

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=8&id=12777&PHPSESSID=1402c46fff70a1d58b427efc0a3832e0

Plastic products earn Tk 1,636 crore from export

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Jan 22 (BSS) – The country had earned a total of Taka 1636.76 crore in 2006-2007 by exporting plastic products. “Plastic industries have immense potential where about five lakh people are employed,” Shamim Ahmed, general secretary of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers Association (BPGMEA) said while talking to BSS today.

He said at present only 20 percent of the potential of the country’s plastic industries is being used.

The domestic demand of plastic products was 5.40 tonnes in 2005 and the demand is growing at an annual rate of 20 percent. The export growth of plastic products was 63.24 from 2005-06 fiscal to 2006-07.

There are 2,997 plastic industries in the country, of which 52 are large scale, 980 medium and 1,965 small. Of the total plastic industries, 381 are hundred percent export-oriented.

Among the plastic industries, 65 percent are based in Dhaka while 20 percent in Chittagong, 10 percent in Narayanganj and five percent are in Khulna, Comilla, Bogra and Rajshahi.

Presently Bangladesh has been exporting plastic items to Italy, New Zealand, Poland, China, UK, Belgium, France, Germany, USA, Canada, Spain, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other countries.

The BPGMEA sources said Bangladesh is now exporting 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, video/audio cassette, melamine table ware, toothbrush, ball pen and artificial flower etc.

Plastic products are popularly used as household items, table ware, kitchen ware, office equipment, toiletries, packaging, building materials, engineering parts, industrial equipment, agricultural product, poultry and fishing, automobile and cycle parts, electronics, textiles articles and musical products.

Referring to various demands of the BPGMEA, Shamim Ahmed said withdrawal of 100 percent bank guarantee is necessary for smooth running of the plastic industries. Process is going on to set up a plastic industrial estate but getting environment clearance certificate should be made easier in this regard, he said.

The BPGMEA sources said plastic is a wonder of polymer chemistry, have 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.

Bangladesh do not have polymer industry, despite having facilities of using natural gas. As all polymer raw materials are imported and there is a scope of recycling waste plastics which could be a way to protect the environment.

With the growth of plastic manufacturing sector, plastic industries have been successfully exporting plastic products to the developed countries.

Nearly hundred percent of the plastic packaging materials used by the exporters of Bangladesh are being supplied by the local plastic industries, in the form of deemed export.

The volume use of plastic products is growing with the development of the country. Volume of plastic wastes is also increasing. At least, 60 percent of plastic wastes are being recycled in the country that save about 400 million US dollar per year cutting import of resin.

Since plastic is not bio-degradable, it is essential to promote recycling of plastic waste and to reach 100 percent recycling of such wastes, the source added.