Export earnings from plastic sector increased significantly in July-October period of the current financial year, compared to that of last fiscal, said official statistics. During the period, the sector earned US$ 49.18 million from export of plastic goods, reflecting a 76 per cent growth. The earning was US$ 27.93 million in the corresponding period of fiscal year (FY) 2015-16, according to data of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). The demand for Bangladeshi plastic products has increased in the global market following its quality and diversification, said sector insiders. Kazi Anwarul Haque, vice president of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA), said there is a good demand for Bangladeshi plastic PP woven (Woven Polypropylene Bag), household items and apparel accessories in global market. He said the export of PP Woven bag is increasing gradually in the USA, the European Union, Australia and South Africa. “Currently we have started exporting fashionable PP Woven bag shopping bags to these regions”. Bangladesh recently started manufacturing light engineering products which have also a good demand, the BPGMEA leader said. “If we get policy support from the government, we can export the items in future,” he added. Iraq, Iran and Thailand have been added to the list of Bangladesh’s export destinations in recent times, he also said. According to the BPGMEA data, currently 300 manufacturers export plastic goods worth nearly Tk 30 billion annually. Manufacturers said the demand for plastic wastes is also increasing day by day in international market. The export volume of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste bottle flakes is around 50,000 tonnes worth more than Tk 1.00 billion a year, according to them. Bangladesh exports a number of items like shopping bags, garbage bags, butcher bags, oven sacks, industrial films, PVC pipes and bags, polythene sheet, plastic hangers, hand gloves, ropes, plastic waste, V belt, toys, electric switches, polyester thread, computer accessories, video/audio cassettes, melamine table ware, toothbrush, ball pen, artificial flower and wall clock.
