Nazmul Karim, CEO and Managing Director of Bridge Chemie Limited, says Bangladesh's ceramic sector stands at a critical juncture where strategic intervention could transform it into a global powerhouse rivaling the country's renowned garment industry.
Speaking with unwavering confidence about the industry's potential, Karim outlined both the opportunities and obstacles facing ceramic manufacturers as they steer an increasingly competitive international marketplace.
The ceramic industry in Bangladesh has evolved far beyond its modest beginnings, Karim emphasized, noting that his company provides comprehensive support to entrepreneurs looking to establish or expand manufacturing facilities.
Bridge Chemie supplies all necessary raw materials while connecting clients with international companies for plant setting, he explained, adding the firm assists in selecting and purchasing machinery, accessories, and equipment essential for production expansion.
The company's involvement extends beyond initial setup, as Karim's team provides ongoing technical services after installation, supplying everything from machinery and spare parts to pesticides, chemicals, and printing materials, all tested by skilled personnel before delivery to ensure international standards are met.
Bangladesh's position as a developing nation with continuous economic growth makes infrastructure development not just important but essential, Karim asserted, expressing strong agreement with construction sector stakeholders who predict fifty years of uninterrupted growth.
The tiles sub-sector alone attracts 66 per cent of ceramic industry investment, surpassing both tableware and sanitaryware, despite the fact that ten percent of the population has yet to adopt tile usage. Remarkably, 97 per cent of tile production serves the domestic market, revealing an enormous internal demand that continues to expand, Karim pointed out suggesting this represents just the beginning of the sector's trajectory.
The sanitaryware segment tells a similarly compelling story, with eighteen manufacturing establishments producing 190 million pieces annually, though only ten percent reaches export markets while ninety percent fulfills domestic needs.
Bangladesh commands 59.3 per cent of the global sanitation products export share, Karim revealed, saying this is a statistic that underscores the country's manufacturing capabilities even as purchasing power constraints limit domestic demand for premium international standard products.
Leading manufacturers including groups like Shinepukur and Abdul Khayer have successfully adopted European technology to produce world-class sanitaryware, establishing recognizable brands in international markets and proving that Bangladeshi quality can compete globally.
Yet significant challenges threaten this progress, Karim said as his voice takes on a more serious tone as he detailed the obstacles manufacturers face daily. Inadequate gas supply and fluctuating pressure plague production facilities, while port management complications and bureaucratic delays prevent timely raw material clearance, causing substantial losses.
The industry's almost complete dependence on imported raw materials becomes increasingly problematic as international prices rise and the local currency depreciates against dollar, driving up costs dramatically. High inflation has contracted the domestic market by reducing consumer purchasing power, Karim said while gas pressure fluctuations increase defective product rates and compromise quality standards.
The banking sector's poor health has created working capital shortages, and the political upheaval of 2024 combined with previous government mismanagement has resulted in negative growth across all industrial sectors including ceramics.
Entrepreneurs have responded by embracing automation, diversifying product lines, investing heavily in research and development, and seeking cost-effective raw materials without sacrificing quality, Karim said. However, government action remains crucial for the sector's advancement, he insisted.
The government must guarantee uninterrupted gas supplies, streamline bureaucratic processes, improve port management efficiency, establish reasonable interest rates for capital and working capital and create favorable conditions for foreign investment.
Bangladesh's closest competitors, China and India, produce conventional products lacking diversity, giving Bangladesh a strategic advantage as developed nations increasingly prefer Bangladeshi imports due to global financial pressures and rising production costs elsewhere.
The Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association must leverage this opportunity, Karim concluded saying, establishing the industry's presence in global markets while simultaneously reducing imports to zero through comprehensive domestic market service, thereby conserving precious foreign currency reserves.
