Dyecol™, a subsidiary of Shree Pushkar Chemicals & Fertilisers Ltd., continues to make strides in the chemical industry with its innovative solutions. Specializing in dyes and colorants, Dyecol™ is known for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. With cutting-edge research and development, the company consistently delivers vibrant and eco-friendly products tailored to meet diverse market needs. As a frontrunner in the sector, Dyecol™ remains dedicated to pushing boundaries and setting new standards for excellence.
In an interview with Textile Today Dr. N. N. Mahapatra, Business Head (Dyes), Dyecol™ shared his insights on dyes industry. He is also Consulting Editor of Textile Today.
Textile Today: How do you see the Bangladesh dyes market in the context of India and some other countries?
Dr. N. N. Mahapatra: Currently, we are exporting to the markets of Bangladesh and Turkey. The Bangladesh market is notably larger than the Turkish market. In terms of catering to brands and retailers serving Bangladeshi customers, they prioritize these relationships more than those in India. This preference may be attributed to factors such as quality and cost considerations. In my opinion, Bangladesh surpasses other countries in this regard, making it the top choice. Vietnam follows closely behind in terms of market preference.
Textile Today: So, in the last three months, there is less demand of dyes in global market. How much it affected the dyes manufacturers in India, China and other countries?
Dr. N. N. Mahapatra: In the dye markets, manufacturing levels naturally fluctuate depending on demand. External factors such as global conflicts, such as the conflict between Gaza and Israel and the Russian war against Ukraine, have certainly had an impact. Currently, no dyeing unit is operating at full capacity; most are running at around 70-80 percent capacity. Last year, the situation was even more subdued. However, there seems to be a noticeable improvement across the board, not just in Bangladesh but also in India. I anticipate that 2024 will be the optimal time for the dye market in terms of capacity utilization and production.
Textile Today: How many months do you think the demand will increase in the dyes market?
Dr. N. N. Mahapatra: I anticipate a pickup in the market after June of this year (2024). We expect an increase in requirements and higher demand. Consequently, I believe the overall global market will also see improvement.
Textile Today: Do you have any new plans of DyeCol in Bangladesh market, how do you think the Shree Pushkar Chemicals can grow in the Bangladesh market in the next coming 5 years?
Dr. N. N. Mahapatra: We have high expectations for the Bangladesh market. We entered this market for the first time in 2018, and since then, six years have passed. In this timeframe, our growth compares favorably to competitors who have been in the market for 20-25 years. Despite being newcomers, our total backward integration as a company gives us a significant advantage. We handle the entire raw material production process for reactive dyes in our factory, followed by the manufacturing of these dyes. Considering our cost-effectiveness, we see tremendous potential and opportunities in the Bangladesh market.
Textile Today: Are you happy with the growth of the market?
Dr. N. N. Mahapatra: As compared to the last 6 years, whatever we have achieved, I think that is a good volume. Also, the next 5 years, we are expecting that it will more than double.
Textile Today: You are one of the leading Vinyl Sulfone (VS) manufacturers in India which is the main raw material for the reactive dyes. What advantage will you get in the pricing of reactive dyes in Bangladesh?
Dr. N. N. Mahapatra: Rightly said that Vinyl Sulfone is the major raw material for reactive dyes. And we are now the largest manufacturer of VS dyes raw material in India. We are manufacturing about 900-1000 tons a month. So, we are one of the leading Vinyl Sulfone manufacturers in India. Also, besides that specialty in our Vinyl Sulfone is that it has a different root of manufacturing which gives us the least PCA (para chloro aniline) content. Which in the powder form is less than 50 ppm and if you dye on the fabric, it is less than 5 ppm that is non-detectable.
PCA, or para-chloroaniline, is a banned amine, and currently, all brands and retailers prioritize low PCA levels in dyed fabrics. One advantage we possess in manufacturing our Vinyl Sulfone dyes is evident in our blacks and navys, where the PCA content is significantly lower compared to our competitors. This stands as a distinct advantage of DyeCol dyes in the Bangladesh market.
Textile Today: Do you have specific plans for your competitors in Bangladesh?
Dr. N. N. Mahapatra: As mentioned earlier, maintaining low PCA levels gives us a competitive edge due to differences in our manufacturing facilities compared to our competitors. Additionally, within the next three months, we are expanding our production capacity for reactive dyes by adding another 600 tons to our current 400 tons, resulting in a total of 1000 tons per month. In the new unit, we will exclusively produce black and navy dyes, while the old unit will focus on reds, yellows, and blues. Our batch size will be 32 tons, the largest in India and globally. This increase in production capacity will make our black and navy dyes highly cost-effective, with minimal batch-to-batch and lot-to-lot variations, currently at only 10-10 tons. These improvements are poised to have a significant impact on the Bangladesh market. Therefore, I believe that within the next five years, Shree Pushkar will achieve a substantial sales volume in Bangladesh.
Textile Today: How do you position your company as a zero waste manufacturing company?
Dr. N. N. Mahapatra: We proudly define ourselves as a zero-waste manufacturing company because during the production of dye intermediates, we generate a significant amount of by-products known as spent acid. This mixture contains both organic and inorganic acids and is highly toxic. However, we undertake a purification process to reuse this acid in the production of fertilizers, primarily super phosphate fertilizer. This commitment to recycling and reusing materials distinguishes us from our competitors, as not all of them have such facilities. We take pride in declaring that Pushakr is a zero-waste manufacturing company. We ensure that nothing is discharged from our factory, and all our by-products are efficiently reused.
