Nur Uddin : Zinc oxide is a raw material with diverse applications in industrial production. India is its main supplier in Bangladesh. If this supply channel is disrupted due to existing political adversaries, about fifty local versatile industrial factories will be in crisis.
This concern was expressed by Morshid Alam Selim, a local producer of zinc oxide. He is the Managing Director of Metal Touch Industries Limited. As a precautionary measure to overcome the crisis, alternative sources of zinc oxide must be found. In addition, opportunities for local production must be created, said this entrepreneur.
Regarding the use of zinc oxide, Murshid Alam Selim said that zinc oxide is an inorganic compound, whose formula is ZnO. It is a white powder that is insoluble in water. As a secondary raw material, it is used as an additive in numerous materials and products, including cosmetics, dietary supplements, rubber, plastics, ceramics, glass, cement, lubricants, paints, sunscreens, ointments, adhesives, sealants, pigments, foods, batteries, ferrites, fire retardants, semiconductors, and first aid tapes. Although it occurs naturally as the mineral zincite, most zinc oxide is produced synthetically.
Mr. Salim said that at a time when industrial production is being disrupted due to the current gas and electricity crisis, if India stops exporting zinc oxide to Bangladesh or increases its price, the industrial production will be in deep crisis.
Citing a report by Fortune Business Insights, he said that the global market for zinc oxide, which has diverse applications in various industrial sectors and has high-utility applications, will stand at US$ 8.51 billion by 2032; growing at a CAGR of 5.6%.
Mr. Selim said that the demand for zinc oxide in Bangladesh is more than 10,000 tons per year. In the global context of industrialization, Bangladesh is only a consumer and importer in the demand, market and supply channel of zinc oxide.
e said that apart from workers, Bangladesh has to import all the capital equipment, raw materials and technology of the industry. When the industrial sector is in a state of turmoil due to the fuel supply crisis and the increase in prices. In such a context, if it faces a new raw material crisis, there will be no way out of it. He further added that the wheels of large, small and medium industries in many sectors can be stopped only due to the crisis of a raw material known as zinc oxide.
Murshid Alam Selim, who has set an example of success as a local producer of essential industrial raw materials like zinc oxide, said in a tone of regret that no response was received even after applying for gas connection in the factory five years ago. As a result, it has become difficult to survive in the competition while producing with diesel and furnace oil. I am skeptical about how long production will be able to continue due to the gas crisis.
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