Bangladesh 2nd best Melamine producer in world market
VognoDuut 451
M Abdur Rahim
Bangladesh's melamine industry has carved a niche in the international market,
having started its journey only 15 years ago, alongside feeding domestic
tableware market.
The country went into melamine production in 1989 when Nasir Group's Bangladesh
Melamine ventured into the business. The industry got major boost in the
following year with Sharif Melamine coming in a big way.
Inspired by rising domestic and international demand, 13 other companies joined
the melamine bandwagon, creating a Tk 120 crore domestic market.
Industry insiders say use of high-tech machine and quality melamine resin and
adoption of latest design have given Bangladeshi melamine tableware a
competitive edge on regional and international markets.
Bangladesh's products are very popular in India especially in eastern states.
However, 34 percent duty and other non-tariff barriers prevent local producers
from grabbing major Indian melamine market, industry people said.
However, blessed with duty-free access, Bangladeshi melamine items have a big
market in Bhutan. Sharif Melamine, which pioneered export in 1993, exported
goods worth $3.5 lakh last fiscal year.
Diamond Melamine, established only last year, exported goods valued at $52,000
and Crown Melamine goods worth $50,000 last fiscal year.
Beside India and Bhutan, Norway, US, Canada and Australia are the major
destinations of Bangladesh's melamine products.
Equipped with over 200 latest machines, local companies produce 12 lakh pieces
of items in about 60 categories a month. Industry sources, however, say the
sector with Tk 100 crore investment is seeing moderate growth due to slow
export growth.
Industry people said Bangladesh is the second most quality producer of melamine
items after Thailand in the world market. Bangladeshi producers use genuine
melamine molding powder from Taiwan, ensuring perfect finishing.
The government has failed to persuade Indian government to include melamine on
the duty-free product list of 39 items for Indian market, industry sources
said. Let alone zero- duty facility, if India only rationalises present duty
structure Bangladesh's melamine goods will grab a huge market there, the source
added.
"Melamine industry can be a major manufacturing sector if the export potential
can fully be explored. Bangladeshi melamine products have earned reputation in
the world market. The industry now needs government support to remove export
roadblocks," Md Nazim Uddin, export manager of Diamond Melamine, said.
Torpedo
Smuggled timber seized
Cu Correspondent
Chittagong South Forest Division (CSFD) has seized a huge quantity of
smuggled timber, including over 2116cft of teakwood, 3000 pieces of bamboo
and 150 sacks of wood coal, worth about Tk.11 lakh during a 10-day drive
recently.
Seven trucks, one pickup van and a CNG-run three wheeler, carrying the
illegal wood were also seized during the drive.
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