Jagaran Chakma is a Staff Reporter of The Daily Star
Automobile sales have dropped substantially since July this year amidst the economic downturn and political turmoil, denting any hopes of recovering from last year’s slump, according to market insiders.
The fate of six state-owned sugar mills remains uncertain as there has been no upgrading progress since those were closed three and a half years ago, contributing to soaring prices of the sweetener in the local market.
Meghna Automobiles, the automotive arm of Meghna Group, began selling three locally assembled sport utility vehicles (SUVs) of South Korean automobile manufacturer KIA recently.
Sales of cement nearly halved in the last couple of months as real estate developers shelved construction plans while public projects came screeching to a halt in the face of nationwide unrest and the sudden political changeover.
Tyre makers in Bangladesh are ramping up production in a bid to expand their market share by catering to a potential supply shortage that may arise from the recent destruction of the Gazi Tyres factory in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj.
Global hikes in tyre and tube-making raw materials rates and a factory rampage at local key manufacturer Gazi Tyres have caused a shortage and price hikes for the auto item used in lightweight two- and three-wheelers like motorbikes and auto-rickshaws.
Standing outside the charred ruins of the Gazi Tyres factory in Rupsi, Rupganj on September 9, Billal Hossain was staring at a bleak future.
Luxury hotels in Dhaka are yet to resume normal business activities as foreign and local clients do not feel confident in travelling to the country given that the overall situation is still unstable.
Following two years of dull demand, home furniture sales went up slightly in the lead-up to Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival for the Muslim community in Bangladesh, as people went on a buying spree despite ongoing inflationary pressure, according to industry people.
Although there is no accurate data on the market for electronic home appliances, industry insiders believe that sales during Eid-ul-Fitr account for around 60 percent of their annual receipts.
Leather exports rose 9.8% year-on-year in Jul-Mar of FY24
About 36 percent of the CEOs are expecting the economic growth rate to improve, compared to 31 percent in a similar survey conducted last year.
Local retailers post up to 65% rise in monthly scooter sales
Singer Bangladesh, one of the leading manufacturers and retailers of home appliances in the country, has begun manufacturing products at its new factory, becoming the first entity to do so inside Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ) at Araihazar in Narayanganj.
It becomes the first plant in Araihazar economic zone
According to industry people, the dollar crisis in the country is gradually easing and the global supply chain is getting smoother, positively impacting the pharmaceuticals sector.
Here, the steady growth of Bangladesh’s economy -- around 6 percent annually -- for the last two decades, and subsequent increases in overall buying capacity, played a big role. Another factor is the increasing domestic assembly of these items by local companies.
Yuji Ando, the country representative of the Jetro, said Japanese companies present in Bangladesh are also facing troubles in customs clearance and settlement of letters of credit.