Ceramics export rises to four-year high in FY23

According to the Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh's exports of ceramic items reached a four-year high in the recently ended fiscal year, however growth slowed as a result of manufacturers' inability to supply goods on time due to the gas shortage.

According to the Export Import Data, the industry received $43.39 million from the shipping of ceramic items in 2022–2023—an increase of 4.91 percent year over year. The export increased by 11.23 percent in 2020–2021 and 32.95 percent in 2021–2022. Compared to the $68.97 million exporters brought home in 2018-19, the year before the pandemic hit the nation, the proceeds in FY23 were significantly less.

Due to a lack of gas, manufacturers were unable to operate their facilities at full capacity. According to Irfan Uddin, general secretary of the Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers and Exporters Association, this was the primary factor in the sector's failure to boost exports as anticipated in FY23.

The government stopped buying liquefied natural gas directly from the international spot market last year to prevent the loss of foreign currency reserves, which caused a sharp decline in energy supply because domestic output has been insufficient for a long time.

Irfan claimed that since October, manufacturers have not received petrol for about 12 hours each day. So, we were unable to deliver things on time. Because of this, we were unable to fulfil about 30% of the orders, according to Irfan, who is also the managing director of FARR Ceramics Ltd.

Five lakh people, including two lakh women, are employed in the sector, which has seen investments from manufacturers totalling roughly Tk 10,000 crore. More than 50 nations get their shipments. However, he believes the tiles market has a bright future because local producers make top-notch goods.