Home ›› 28 Mar 2022 ›› Front
The market for glass – especially the sheet, flat and float varieties used in residential and commercial building constructions – is growing at a fast pace, riding on skyrocketing demand in both home and abroad.
Bangladesh’s glass and glassware export earnings rose by 167 per cent to $14.37 million in July-February period of FY2021-22, compared to $5.38
million in the same period previous FY, reveals data from the Export Promotion Bureau.
Once entirely dependent on imports for decades, Bangladesh now has an annual glass market of around Tk 2,000 crore. PHP Float Glass Industries, Nasir Glass Industries, AB Glass Industries and state-owned Usmania Glass Sheet Factory are key local manufacturers.
Providing further details, Bangladesh Glass Merchant Association’s (BGMA) President Mohammad Hossain Alamgir said, “The industry is growing by 15 per cent – 20 per cent per annum, and employs around 40,000 people.
“High demand, reasonable prices and international quality of locally manufactured glass are helping the market move steadily forward.”
PHP’s Head of Sales and Marketing (Senior Manager) Prasun Talukder said, “PHP manufactures clear and colour float, silver coated mirror, tempered and reflective glass products of ten colours.
“We are now exporting clear float glass to different states of India, and Nepal as well. We have plans to introduce various value added products such as insulating glass, lamination, bending, sandblasting and glass doors products to meet more of the market’s demand.”
Bangladesh’s total glass market size is 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes per month, and PHP currently holds 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the market share, he said, adding, “Our daily production capacity is 300 tonnes.”
Commercial building constructions a boon
Industry insiders said the growing number of high-rise commercial building constructions – particularly in different cities throughout Bangladesh – is behind the growth of the local glass market.
Usually, a building’s exterior is built with brick, wood, plastic and particle boards, but people are now using glass for aesthetic reasons. Besides, anti-reflective glass also protects buildings from the heat of the sun, they added.
Domestic manufactures meet around 70 per cent of Bangladesh’s demand, and the domestic market size is around 2,000 tonnes per day, according to the BGMA.
Data from the ResearchAndMarkets.com – another research organisation – reveals that the global float glass market was valued at $ 53,709.30 million in 2020, and it is projected to reach $86,984.42 million by 2028.
The global glass manufacturing market is expected to reach $180.2 billion by 2028, says data from the GlobeNewswire.
Demand up for high quality glass
Many consumers want to purchase colourful glasses to use in the construction of residential and commercial buildings, but local manufactures cannot meet this demand as yet.
On the issue, BGMA’s President Mohammad Hossain Alamgir said, “We have to import high-quality glass items from different countries such as China, India and Thailand to fulfill around 30 per cent of the domestic demand.
“The government should provide proper policy support to make quality products in the country.”
Echoing the same, PHP’s Prasun Talukder said, “Glass has a great potential for becoming one of Bangladesh’s major industries. The government should not increase energy costs for this industry.
“We also hope that the government will protect domestic glass production by imposing a tax barrier against imports.”
PHP established the PHP Float Glass Industries Ltd in the port city Chattogram in 2004, with an annual production capacity of 40,000 tonnes, approximately 4 million square meters at an average thickness of 4 mm.
The company later installed a high-quality silver mirror plant in 2008 using the latest technology from China.
Glass prices on the rise
The price of different types of glass increased by Tk 20 – Tk 25 per square foot in the last two months due to a multitude of factors, including a hike in energy and raw material prices.
Proprietor of Diganta Glass House Anisur Rahman on Tuesday said he is selling PHP 5mm glass at Tk85 per square foot, 6mm at Tk 97 and 10mm at Tk 146.
“The price of glass increased three to four times in the last two months. We heard that the price may go up further by Tk 5 – Tk 7 in the next two weeks. We do not know why the prices keep going up, only the manufacturers have the details,” he added.
Another trader and fitter Siam Khan said he recently bought glass fittings – which are used to decorate residential or commercial buildings – for Tk 420 – Tk 450 per square foot, which was Tk 350 – Tk 380 only two months ago.”
PHP’s Prasun Talukder said due to an increase in the costs of raw material, energy, labour, transportation, and volatility in the international freight market are the main reasons behind the price hike of glass products. “The price hike is also hampering our sales,” he added.
