The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

One of the top 10 manufacturers of fruit juices in the world, the Dabur Nepal, is eyeing Bangladesh as its potential market posing a threat to the local players.

Currently the Tk 90 crore Bangladeshi juice market is being dominated by Pran Group, which accounts for 44 per cent of the total sales. Partex Group and Abul Khair Group, two other manufacturers are holding 22 per cent each. Acme Laboratories is in the fourth place, which controls from eight to 10 per cent of the market.

Bangladesh's juice market is growing at the rate of about five per cent. Local manufacturers said entering of the giant player in Bangladesh may put them at risk.

Dabur Nepal, wholly owned subsidiary of the Indian FMCG giant, recently urged Bangladesh government to reduce the import duty on juice as its bid to enter the market is thwarted due to the 'high' customs duty.

At present the import duty on juice is 80 per cent. The government imposed the import duty to help boost the local juice industry.

According to the Dabur Nepal website, it is the biggest juice manufacturer in the Himalayan Kingdom, holding 58 per cent of the local market with its Real brand.

Its annual turnover in juice exports amounts to over Nepali Rs 1.5 billion, the consignments going mostly to India.

According to Chief of Dabur Nepal Udayan Gang, Nepal has a juice market of Rs 1 billion and because of the government's encouraging policies it is growing at a rate of 35 per cent.

Dabur Nepal received a boost this year when the government agreed to refund it the duty it had been paying on the packaging material imported from outside Nepal for Real.

Dabur Nepal is eying Bangladesh as one of its potential markets as the SAARC countries are stepping up efforts to boost inter-region trade as well as infrastructure. Bangladesh and Nepal is likely to be connected by rail service.