Fibers are the basic component of fabrics. The history of fibers is as old as human civilization and the usage of fiber was limited by natural fibers in the past time. However, fibers can be divided into two categories such as natural fibers and man-made or chemical fibers, and now man-made fiber is very popular to the consumers. Regenerated cellulose fiber (viscose) falls under the category of man-made fibers, which are made from the chemical-induced transformation of natural polymers. Each year Bangladesh spends huge money to import viscose fibers from different country including India. Usage of the fibres is increasing day by day in Bangladesh textile industry. Bangladesh is the world’s second largest producer of raw jute after India, but Bangladesh does not produce viscose fibers by it as capacity to produce viscose fibers using jute as a raw material is absent here.
Recently China has made an offer of technology and finance to Bangladesh for building a plant to make viscose fiber from jute aimed at strengthening economic ties with South Asian countries. A minute of document was already signed by the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) and China’s Textile Industrial Corporation for foreign economic and Technical Corporation to take the jute viscose project onward. In addition, an expert team from Bangladesh has visited some viscose plants in China for an exposure to carbon/charcoal-based viscose manufacturing process.
Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) has hinted that the proposed plant will need a minimum investment of 1,000 crore taka. On other hand, every year Bangladesh imports viscose fiber worth tk about 700-800 crore. Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) Secretary Mansur Ahmed said a few days ago that 50-60 spinning mills used viscose. If viscose can be produced inside the country, then mill-owners will benefit. According to the ministry, about 33 thousand 737 tons viscose were imported by Bangladeshi spinning mills last year, which market value was about 650 crore taka. If viscose is produced in the country then they need not to import. In fact, it will be a major breakthrough for the textile sector.
Figure: Picture shows a fiber research center of Aditya Birla Grasim, the company which secures largest market of Bangladesh's viscose need.
During 2013 Bangladesh imported around US$ 1 billion of man-made fiber yarn from the world of which India’s share was 12% (US$ 118 million). Bangladesh is a growing market for man-made fiber textiles. During 2013-14 Bangladesh has emerged as the 5th largest market for Indian man-made fiber textiles. Exports of these textiles from India to Bangladesh have steadily grown over the years to reach to the tune of USD 230 million during 2013-14 recording a growth of 32% compared to the previous year, according to a data of DGCI& S, Kolkata.
The Chinese rescue act for the ailing jute sector, which provides livelihood to nearly 25 million people in jute-related activities from growing of fiber to its processing in factories to handling and trading will earn Beijing much goodwill to India’s discomfort, opined some industry insiders. India expressed their fear that If with China’s help, mills in Bangladesh are able to produce manmade fibers like viscose, India will be losing its market in Bangladesh.
Such project of value added use of jute fiber in Bangladesh will mean less supply of Bangladeshi golden fiber jute to India. By taking Bangladeshi jute, Indian companies produces value added products and earned huge amount of foreign currency.
