Highlights:
- Chinese company investing $100 million in Gazipur beverage can factory
- Plant aims to produce 100 crore cans annually
- Around 90% of production will be exported to international markets
- Construction began in 2024, with production targeted within eight months
- Gas connection remains a major challenge before production can begin
- Local manufacturing could reduce imports and save foreign currency
Chinese company Alu Hi-Tech Industries Ltd is investing $100 million to establish a beverage can manufacturing plant at Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park in Gazipur, with plans to export around 90% of its annual output.
The factory is expected to produce 100 crore beverage cans yearly, supplying the remainder to the domestic market, according to the company's Managing Director Yuan Dingyan.
The company began work on the project and registered at the hi-tech park in 2024. It has completed the basement construction and aims to finish the remaining infrastructure work and begin production within the next eight months.
The company has taken around 13 acres of land for the facility and will import machinery and raw materials for production from China.
Yuan told TBS that Bangladesh's relatively small market meant the company planned to export most of its production.
As beverage cans are currently imported into Bangladesh, local manufacturing could reduce import dependence and save foreign currency, he added.
Gas connection major challenge
Securing a gas connection remains a major challenge for the project as the company prepares to begin production. It has sought assistance from the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority to resolve the issue.
Md Fazlur Rahman, managing director of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, told this newspaper that the company had applied for a gas connection.
"We have held a meeting with the company this month and collected information about its gas requirements. Work is underway to address the issue," he said.
He expressed hope that the factory would receive a gas connection by the time production begins, adding that the authority was in contact with the relevant government ministries.
Beverage can market offers growth potential
Aluminium cans are increasingly used in Bangladesh to package soft drinks, energy drinks and juices. Brands such as Mojo, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Mirinda, Sprite, Power and Mountain Dew are available in cans in the local market.
Globally, demand for aluminium beverage cans is growing as manufacturers and consumers increasingly favour durable, recyclable packaging as an alternative to plastic bottles.
Industry players are also adopting new technologies to improve packaging appeal and functionality, including augmented reality-based designs and temperature-sensitive inks that change colour.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global beverage can market was valued at $30.79 billion in 2025. It is projected to grow from $32.87 billion in 2026 to $55.47 billion by 2034, registering a compound annual growth rate of 6.76%.
North America accounted for 35.44% of the global market in 2025.
The proposed investment could create an export-oriented manufacturing base in Bangladesh while reducing the country's reliance on imported beverage cans.