The plastic sector in Bangladesh contributes 1% of GDP and employs half a million people. There are about 3,000 plastic manufacturing units, 98% of which are small and medium enterprises. Popular plastic products include household items, packaging, furniture, and accessories for the garment industry. While plastics offer benefits like low cost and durability, the sector faces challenges such as a lack of skilled labor and technical expertise, inadequate testing facilities, and issues with plastic waste recycling and management.

2.  Light weight, attractive color, ease of processing, non-
rusting property and low cost are some of the features
of plastic.
 As a result, many house hold and technical items
which were used to be made of metal, wood, clay, etc.
are now being made of plastics.
 The sector is one of the thrust sectors in the Industrial
Policy - 2010.

3. Bangladesh
 There are about 3000 manufacturing units in the plastic sector of
which 98% belongs to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The
plastic sector contributes 1.0 percent of GDP and provides employment
for half a million people.
 According to UN-ESCAP Report-2009
 Growth 20 percent per annum for direct export of plastic goods
 Domestic Market Tk. 9,000 Crore
 Per Capita Plastic Consumption About 5 kg/Year
 Direct Export Earning Tk. 500 Crore (US $ 69 million)
 Deem Export: RMG Accessories Tk. 2000 Crore (US $ 286 million)
 About 3,000 small, medium and large plastic Manufacturing Units
operate across the country
 There are approx. 300 small units in Dhaka City which recycle about
138 tons of plastic each day.

4. Bangladesh
 Commodity polymers widely used in Bangladesh are:
 Poly Ethylene (HDPE and LDPE)
 Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)
 Poly Propylene (PP)
 Poly Ethylene Terepthalate (PET)
 Poly Styrene (PS)
• Three basic types of machines employed in
plastic products manufacturing
 Blowing
 Extrusion
 Injection Molding

5. Plastic Products and their Applications in
Bangladesh
APPLICATIONS PRODUCTS
Accessories for RMG Packaging material, bags, hangers, etc.
Household, Tableware
& Kitchenware
Bucket, jug, plate, glass, containers etc.
Furniture ware Chair, Table etc.
Packaging All kinds of food and non-food packaging
Healthcare
Toiletries (Soap case, tooth brush), Medical Accessories
(blood bag, saline bag, injection, medicine container)
Building and construction Plastic pipe, door, toilet flush etc.
Electrical and Electronic
Equipment
Electrical cables and wires, switches, regulator, computer
accessories, telecommunication equipment etc.
Agricultural products
Plastic pipes for irrigation, and plastic films for shedding
crops
Industrial Applications Engineering parts

6. Opportunities
 Shift of Manufacturing Industries
 A shift in manufacturing from the west to a region with low labor cost,
high knowledge and technology base
 Growing Export Trends
 The exports comprise of direct export of plastic goods and deem
export of RMG accessories. In FY 2003-04 total export was Tk.632 cr.
whereas in FY 2010-11 it was Tk. 2466.
 Rank in Export Sectors
 6th in export earning sectors of the country.
 Competitiveness:
 The low wage structure and the fast developing recycling industry of
waste plastics in Bangladesh are potential advantages to be
competitive in global market.
 Market Size Potential
 In 1990 the consumption of plastics was about 14,000 tons. In 2010 it
was 750,000 tons, an increase of 50 times.
 At present per capita consumption of plastics in Bangladesh is 5
kg/year as compared with the global average of 30 kg/year. The per
capita consumption of ASEAN countries is 17 kg/year.

7. Constraints & Challenges
Major constraints identified in this sector are:
 Skilled manpower development
 Trouble shooting in operation of processing machines
 Mold design and mold making
 Testing facilities for quality control services
 Certification for export of plastic products
 Technical consultancy services
 Proper management of plastic wastes
 Negative environmental image of plastic industries

8. Constraints & Challenges
 Enhancing Competitiveness of SMEs
 Some large-scale plastic industries have demonstrated
capability to be world class in terms of technology,
quality and costs. However, 98% plastic manufacturing
units belong to the small-medium sector (SMEs). Major
task will be to make these SMEs competitive in the
global market by upgrading them in terms of innovative
technology, products diversity and operation costs.
 Environmental Issues and Recycling of Waste
Plastics
 Management of PE bags
 Recycling of Waste of Plastics

10. Thank You