Ceramic :

•  Tableware 

•  Sanitaryware 
•  Insulator
  
  Sector Highlights

1. Bangladesh has a skilled manpower in ceramic industry.

2. Historically, tableware industry is labor-intensive.

3. The clean gas reserve required for firing is a great competitive advantage for Bangladesh.

Industry Outlook

Global ceramic tableware industry is currently going through a phase of acquisition and consolidation as smaller industries in the developed countries are becoming incompetitive and bankrupt. As a result, the big names like Noritake, Wedgewood, Lenox, Villeroy & Boch and Royal Doulton are all individually becoming billion-dollar operations.

Historically, tableware industry is labor-intensive and even after spending billions of dollars on automation, developed countries could not reduce the number of workforce according to their expectations. As a result, the cost of production will always remain extremely high in developed countries and the premium brands are only surviving because they are charging huge price to the consumers for their brand equity.

Bangladesh, being a gas-rich and low-labor-cost economy, offers to be a strategic partners in production and supply of ceramic products. Investment interests in this sector are strongly welcomed.

Exhibit: Growth and projection of Ceramic Tableware Exports from Bangladesh
(1995-96 to 2002-2003)

In million US$