Bangladesh's glassmaking industry is facing tough competition from cheaper Chinese glasses, which are being imported in large quantities due to a shortfall by local producers to meet the country's demand. "Cheap Chinese glass have captured about 50% of the market in the last couple of months through the country's four glass manufacturers are able to produce that kind of glass at low cost," said Mizanur Rahman, Marketing Manager at PHP Glass Industry. Local manufacturer Nasir Glass Ind and the PHP Group began commercial production of float glass in 2009. Two other firms, Osmania and MEB, were in operation earlier. Together, these four are currently producing 350/tpd, (with capacity for 400/tpd). A market study revealed that Bangladesh imported 65.1M sq/ft of glass in 2003, while local firms produced 41.4M sq/ft in the same year.
