Ceramics industry in Bangladesh

White clay mine in Bijoypur, Durgapur, Netrokona

The ceramics industry is a growing manufacturing sector in Bangladesh. The industry started in the late 1950s when the first ceramic industrial plants were established. The industry mainly produces tableware, sanitaryware and tiles. As of 2011, there were 21 ceramic industrial units throughout Bangladesh, employing about 500,000 people. In the first nine months of the 2013-14 fiscal year, Bangladesh exported about US$36 million worth of goods after meeting 80% of the domestic demand. The main export destinations are the EU, the US and the Middle East. [1][2]

History

The first ceramic plant was established in Bogura in 1958. Owned by Tajma Ceramic Industries, it was a small manufacturing plant for porcelain tableware.

Peoples Ceramic Industries, formerly Pakistan Ceramic Industries, started production in 1966.

Bengal Fine Ceramics Ltd, the first Bangladeshi stoneware manufacturer, began its operations in 1986.

One of the largest ceramic manufacturers in Bangladesh, Monno Ceramics, was established in 1985 to produce porcelain tableware with other ceramic items later.

Shinepukur Ceramics was established in 1997 for the production of bone china and porcelain tableware. Shinepukur later captured around 60% of the domestic market.[3]

RAK Ceramics was incorporated in Bangladesh on 26 November 1998 and started its commercial production on 12 November 2000.[4]

Sources of raw material

Some white clay deposits have been discovered in Mymensingh, Sylhet and Netrokona. The largest deposit of white clay is situated at Bijoypur of Mymensingh which was discovered in 1957.[3] However, ceramic manufacturers import almost all of their raw material. China, India, New Zealand and Germany are the main sources of the raw materials.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Foreign investment

The ceramics industry sector has attracted foreign investment. The investments have mainly been from China and the Middle East states. Some of the major joint venture partners are RAK Ceramics, Fu Wang and China-Bangla,[14] of which the largest is RAK of the UAE, and who have about 80% of the domestic sanitaryware market.[15]

Export destinations and international competitors

Ceramic products have been exported to more than 45 countries. The largest export destinations are the United States, Italy, Spain, France, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Australia and Sweden.[16]

China and Thailand are amongst the major competitors in the international market for Bangladeshi ceramic manufacturers. However, the low labour costs of the local manufacturers has put Bangladesh in a strong position.[1][17][18][19]

References

  1. ^ a b "Ceramic industries seek duty cut on raw materials import". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Local ceramic cos get spot orders worth $30m in Frankfurt Fair". The Financial Express. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  3. ^ a b Bhuiyan, Zakir Hossain (2012). "Ceramic Industry". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  4. ^ "RAK Ceramics website". Archived from the original on 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  5. ^ ".: FARR Ceramics Ltd".
  6. ^ Forkan, Golam Mohammad; Ahmed, Khandaker fayez (January–June 2011). "Marketing Strategies of Tableware Ceramics Industry of Bangladesh: Some Empirical Evidence from International Players" (PDF). ASA University Review. 5 (1).
  7. ^ "Productpilot FAQ".
  8. ^ "Ceramic industry witnesses over 200pc growth in five years". The Financial Express. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  9. ^ 'Bangladesh Tableware'. Asian Ceramics February 2012.
  10. ^ 'Insight On Bangladesh'. Asian Ceramics. March 2014.
  11. ^ 'Long Time Coming? Bangla Ceramics Makers Wait For The Boom'. J.Ahmed. Asian Ceramics. April 2013.
  12. ^ 'Marketing Strategies Of Tableware Ceramics Industry Of Bangladesh: Some Empirical Evidence From International Players'. Golam Mohammad Forkan & Khandaker Fayez Ahmed. ASA University Review, Vol. 5. No. 1, January–June 2011
  13. ^ 'ADB Working Paper Series On Regional Economic Integration: Can Global Value Chains Effectively Serve Regional Economic Development In Asia? Section 2.2: Ceramic Tableware In Bangladesh: A GVC Analysis'. Hans-Peter Brunner. Asian Development Bank No. 110 March 2013.
  14. ^ "China-Bangla Ceramic dealers to visit China". The Independent. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  15. ^ "RAK Ceramics takes on first IPO under book building". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  16. ^ "Ceramic goods export fetches $ 37.69m in last fiscal year". The Financial Express. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  17. ^ 'Cup And Sources- Asian Tableware Leads The Way'. Rohan Gunasekera. Asian Ceramics July / August 2013.
  18. ^ 'Serving Up Change. Re-Drawing The Asian Tableware Map'. Y.S.Malik. Asian Ceramics. December/January 2013.
  19. ^ 'Pass The Source. Bangladesh Emerges As An OEM Highlight' Asian Ceramics. June 2007.