When Star Particle Board Mills Limited started manufacturing boards in 1962, the company pioneered a very potential industry in Bangladesh. For the last six decades, Partex Board has maintained the leading position in the industry through straight and uneven roads. They have continuously been delivering new board products for fashionable interiors and uplifting customers’ lifestyles.

However, the recent global economic crisis coupled with the Russia- Ukraine war has posed some challenges for all industries. Bangladesh Brand Forum conversed with Sumon Shahed Patowary, Chief Operating Officer, SPBML, PLL, SGBML, PPIL, Partex Star Group, Complex – 1, regarding how the local manufacturing giant is keeping up the supply chain amid these tough times.

“The power crisis has had a great impact on our production capacity. Production shortening has caused price escalation. But we will figure out how to lower our power consumption cost. One of the easiest ways to survive and sustain in such a situation is cost cutting,”- Sumon Shahed Patowary said.
Another concerning factor for the board industry remains the difficulties of importing raw materials for the indoor building material section which includes doors, boards, and interior products. The raw materials for such products are imported mostly from European countries. Since raw product prices have increased lately in the international market, it has also impacted local manufacturing.

“Well, all LC opening processes have been delayed lately. As a result, the smoothness of the usual supply chain of raw materials has also been disrupted. But in the meantime, we are ensuring our employees’ salaries and the cost of power consumption. Therefore, the increasing manufacturing costs result in the higher price of products. But we are hopeful that this situation will start to ease from January 2023. Then, we will be able to fix prices according to the market, and sales will increase accordingly,”- Sumon Shahed Patowary added.

The board market is an evermore upgrading market. New kinds of products keep on entering the market and changing the trends. So, regularly operating the R&D for better results and trends is a constant challenge for the industry. Keeping the price within people’s affordability is another challenge for board manufacturers.
“Bangladesh’s board producing capacity is more than local market demand for boards. Therefore, if we want to have a full capacity production, we have to focus not only on the local market but also on the international market.”

Star Particle Board Mills Limited is also the pioneer in board exporting in Bangladesh. It has been 20 years since the company has been exporting locally manufactured boards to different parts of the world. Singapore, Malaysia, India, especially the seven sisters, Nepal, Middle East countries, and Myanmar are the prominent board-importing countries.
“International buyers prefer our products because we manufacture international standard boards. If we remain competitive, the demand in the international market will surely go upward,”- Sumon Shahed Patowary remarked.

Other companies have entered the international market in the last few years. So, the volume of local export has only increased over time.
“The global price index of boards has fallen recently. So, other international manufacturing countries having good forest reserves and low production costs can manufacture board products at cheaper rates. It has posed a challenge in keeping prices checked with the market. But owing to our geographical advantage, we have a clear passage in the Indian belt, especially that of the seven sisters,”- added Sumon Shahed Patowary.

The leading company, which has introduced many popular board variants like particle boards, woodex boards, and recently trending Melamine boards in Bangladesh, wants to continue this innovation journey in the future too. They are also planning on improving their production capacity. Additionally, they are focusing more on R&D to reach customers of different economic classes and tastes to increase turnovers.

“We want to develop our production through backward linkage. Bangladesh needs more forests. So we are planning to reserve our own forest lands for raw materials. This project will help us plant more greenery than the demand for raw materials. We want to contribute to the environmental balance of Bangladesh and the globe.