Berger Paints To Invest Tk 813 Crore For Third Factory Expansion

On May 20, 2025, Bangladesh’s stock market rebounded from a five-year low as bargain hunters capitalized on undervalued shares. The DSEX rose 13 points (0.28%) to 4,789 in the first hour of trading. Blue-chip and Shariah indices also posted gains.

LafargeHolcim Bangladesh PLC will invest Tk 180 crore in a new industrial-use mill at its Surma plant in Sunamganj’s Chhatak to enhance energy efficiency and operational reliability. Despite a 14% year-on-year profit decline to Tk 139.1 crore in Q1 2025—driven by rising fuel costs and declining cement prices—the company’s revenue rose 3% to Tk 851.5 crore, reflecting stable market demand.

In Q3 of FY 2024–25, Crown Cement's profit surged 76% year-on-year to Tk 30.20 crore, driven by a 30% revenue growth to Tk 1,192.20 crore, attributed to a 30.14% increase in sales volume and a slight 0.46% price rise. Earnings per share rose to Tk 2.03 from Tk 1.15.

Over the past seven years, 56 companies raised Tk5,178 crore through IPOs in Bangladesh, but 24 of them—collectively raising over Tk2,000 crore—have been downgraded to the Z and B categories due to poor financial performance.

During a high-level meeting in Dhaka, Holcim Group reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the Bangladesh market. Martin Kriegner, Holcim’s regional head for Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, emphasized the company's continued investment and highlighted the use of non-recyclable plastics as fuel at its Chhatak plant, claiming zero environmental impact.

In FY24, Bangladesh’s steel industry faces significant challenges driven by declining demand, political uncertainty, and high operational costs. BSRM, with an annual production capacity of 24 lakh tonnes, and Abul Khair Steel, producing 30 lakh tonnes, both expanded based on prior economic momentum now lost.