From Dhaka to dollar dreams: RFL's Tk 200cr plastic push
In 2025, RFL isn’t just molding plastic—it’s molding the future. Bangladesh’s industrial giant is pumping Tk 200 crore ($18 million) into a new factory to turbocharge exports of household plastic goods, eyeing the lucrative US market and snagging business drifting from China.
Set to spark 2,500 jobs and boost annual exports by 30 per cent, this isn’t just a factory—it’s a game-changer.
The action’s unfolding at RFL Industrial Park in Kaliganj, Gazipur, where production kicks off in April-May. This shiny new plant promises $42 million worth of goods—think sleek containers, toys, tableware, and kitchenware—destined entirely for global shelves.
“Every product rolling out is for export,” says Kamruzzaman Kamal, RFL’s Marketing Director. “We’re gearing up to flood more markets.”
A Chinese handshake
Come Sunday, March 2, RFL seals the deal with China’s Haitian Group, a titan in plastic machinery since 1966. The agreement, to be inked with PRAN-RFL Chairman and CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury on hand, brings cutting-edge injection molding tech to Gazipur.
Haitian’s machines already power plastic production across Asia—this partnership is RFL’s ticket to scale up fast.
Why now? Why the US?
Kamal doesn’t mince words: “Private investment’s dried up lately—economic hiccups, you name it. RFL’s move is a breath of fresh air.”
Amid Bangladesh’s export struggles, this factory isn’t just bricks and mortar—it’s a lifeline.
By May, 2,500 workers will clock in, foreign exchange reserves will swell, and orders are already piling up. “We’ve bagged a $6 million deal from one US buyer alone,” Kamal beams. “That’s the biggest private-sector export order outside garments.”
The US is the prize. With 330 million people chewing through 150 kg of plastic per head annually, it’s a goldmine. Donald Trump’s tariffs have rattled China’s grip, and RFL sees daylight.
“We’re thriving in Europe, but the US is next,” Kamal says. “Their $6 million order? Just the start. We’re BSCI-certified—health, safety, the works—so we’re ready to roll.”
Plastic boom in numbers
Bangladesh’s plastic exports are already flexing muscle. The Export Promotion Bureau pegs July-January 2024-25 earnings at $182 million—a 24.22 per cent jump from $146 million the year before. The full 2023-24 haul? $244 million. The US chipped in $7.95 million this fiscal year so far, up from $10.75 million last year. RFL’s new plant could tip those scales even further.
RFL’s global playbook
Since 2007, when RFL first shipped plastic goods to India, it’s been a steady climb—20 per cent export growth year on year. Today, its 500 products across 30 categories—everything from hangers to furniture—dot 80 countries. Last year, RFL pocketed $100 million, with India leading the pack, followed by Germany, the US, Canada, and beyond. One will spot RFL in Walmart, Carrefour, Lidl, and Target—household names carrying Bangladesh’s stamp.
Beyond the bottom line
This isn’t just about profit. In a country where jobs are gold dust, 2,500 new pay checks mean families fed, kids schooled. Kamal sees it bigger: “Exports enrich us all—reserves grow, the economy breathes easier.” As orders flood in before the factory’s even humming, RFL’s proving it: Bangladesh can mold more than plastic—it can mold opportunity.