December 14, 2020: The country’s ceramic industry will soon gain a strong footing on the global market by producing export-oriented ceramic products, said Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Shirajul Islam Mollah in an interview with New Age.
Shirajul, also the managing director of China-Bangla Ceramic Industry Limited, said that the industry was now giving focus on the international market after meeting around 85 per cent of local demand for ceramic products.
‘As the demand grows, more and more companies are joining the industry,’ he said.
The BCMEA president said, ‘We are ready to make less profit to get a strong footing on the international market.’
The industry mainly exports tableware products which account for more than 90 per cent of the country’s ceramics export.
Shinepukur, Monno and FAAR Ceramics lead the tableware’s local and international market.
The association organised an international ceramic fair in Dhaka to display local tiles and sanitary products and attract foreign buyers.
‘We maintain international standards that facilitated the industry to expand on the international market,’ Shirajul said.
The industry players also keep introducing new designs and styles in line with the international market.
The raw materials for the sector are imported, which has become a hurdle to the sector’s growth to compete with China and India.
However, affordable gas price and low labour cost have put the industry on a strong position.
The industry has emerged as an emerging sector in the country.
The industry has been growing rapidly as people’s purchasing power has increased significantly over the last 10 years, he said.
Ceramic products, especially tiles are used in the houses and mosques in the rural areas and demand for the products in the rural areas is rising day by day.
‘Previously, we had to import tiles to meet the local demand, but now we fulfil around 80 per cent of the local demand for tiles.’
The industry began to flourish from 2008 and kept expanding with a surge in per capita income, remittance inflow and foreign loans and grants, Shirajul said.
Besides, the government took various development projects that also became a boon to the sector, he said.
Differences in people’s life style between rural and urban areas are decreasing, which also creates more opportunities for the sector.
Import of ceramic products could not hamper the business as the local industries have already captured the domestic market.
The industry is facing several challenges that should be addressed to facilitate the sector to advance further.
Businesses have to count additional costs due to a long delay in releasing products from the Chattogram port, Shirajul said.
Besides, maintaining an uninterrupted gas supply is a requirement for the industry to remain functioning, he added.
Source: NEWAGE Business
