People's Ceramic Industries Ltd.

eople's Ceramic Industries Ltd. (PCI), a pioneer in the manufacture of porcelain tableware in Bangladesh started its production in 1966. Its factory situated in Tongi Industrial Area (about 20km/12.5 miles from Dhaka) has an annual capacity of about 11 to 12 million assorted pieces. It is now supplying products both in the international (40%) and the domestic market (60%) respectively. The main exporting countries are Belgium, France, Italy, Spain & U.K.

Standard Ceramic Industries Ltd.

Standard Ceramic Industries Ltd (SCI), a public limited company, was listed with Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSC) in 1996. With A category shares (highest group), SCI has been performing well, giving dividend to its shareholders regularly mostly at the rate of 10%. It started its production in 1993. The factory which is located at Gazipur has an annual capacity of 3780 tons, 15 million assorted pieces. It produces light Weight Stone Tableware (Hard Glaze Vitrified). The company exports its products to Sweden, Finland, Spain, Italy, U.K, France and Germany (GSP available for EU, U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand).

FARR Ceramics Ltd

FARR Ceramics Ltd constructed its factory at the end of 2005 and started commercial production from the beginning of 2007. Located about 40km north of the capital city Dhaka, the factory is capable of producing more than 10 million pcs of export quality tableware items per year. 90% of its products are exported mostly to countries like Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Syria, Dubai, Turkey and India.

Fu-wang Ceramic Industry Ltd.

Fu-wang Ceramic Industry Ltd. is a multi-national company involving Taiwan, Malaysia and Bangladesh. It is a public limited company and was listed with Dhaka Stock Exchange in 1998. Fu wang manufactures ceramic wall and floor tiles and roofing tiles. It exports its products to countries in the North America, South America, Europe, Eastern and Southeast Asia, Mid East, Africa and Oceania.

Bengal Fine Ceramics Ltd.

Bengal Fine Ceramics Ltd went into production in 1986. Its factory is located at Bhagalpur in Savar, Dhaka. It became listed with the DSC in 1996. A pioneer in making stoneware (an off-white product manufactured by using local Mymensingh clay), the company has made an impressive performance in export over the years. It owns a clay mine covering an area of 376.03 acres at Mouza Arpara in Panckahania of Durgapur, Netrokona, and uses clay obtained from there. It also uses some Quartz Stones which are available in Sylhet. The local raw materials constitute 40% of the total requirements. The factory produces very fine quality and fully vitrified stoneware & porcelain dinner items in various shapes, patterns, designs and colours. The present output is 10 million pieces of assorted tableware

per annum. The company's performance had been quite impressive until 2006 when it sustained heavy losses and there are reports that it has not been in production since last year. The company also failed to provide any dividend for the last two years ( 2006 and 2007) and its share price has fallen sharply on the Dhaka Stock Exchange which has already listed the company in the Z category (lowest level).

Tajma Ceramic Industries Ltd.

Tajma Ceramic Industries Ltd. established the country's first ceramic company in Bogra. The factory started production is 1962. The company had ups and downs over the years. In 2002, it stopped production, which, according to Altaf Hossain, Director of Tajama Ceramic Industries, was due to the high price of Oil. However, Altaf informs ET that the company is 'switching from oil to gas' which will considerably reduce its operation cost. Tajma has already imported quality machinery from China and Altaf confirms that the company will start production again by June this year.