Bangladesh Steel Mills Association (BSMA) president Mohammad Jahangir Alam said the increase in fuel prices could increase rod prices by Tk 200 per tonne and cement prices by Tk 4-5 per bag.
“Rising fuel prices are increasing production costs inside and outside factories. However, due to weak market demand we are unable to raise prices,” he told Prothom Alo.
At the Exclusive Can Factory in Majukhan, Tongi, Ghazipur, various companies manufacture paint cans, ice cream boxes, lubricant containers and medicine bottles.
At present, load shedding takes place in the factory for four and a half to five hours every day. Although generators are used during power cuts, output reaches only 80 percent capacity.
However, due to fuel shortage, the factory is now operating at only 50 percent capacity.
Confirming the situation, Syed Nasir, managing director of Exclusive Can, said, “Our primary concern now is whether we will be able to get enough fuel despite the price hike. Our employees are unable to buy diesel from many filling stations, forcing us to buy it elsewhere at higher prices.”