Glass and Glassware Industry in Myanmar

Myanmar’s glass and glassware industry is expected to grow together with Myanmar’s
extensive development in building and infrastructure. According to the United Nations
COMTRADE, Myanmar’s imports of glass and glassware was US$ 68.3 million in 2015,
US$ 130.4 million in 2016, and US$ 85.8 million in 2017. China was the top glass and glassware
exporter to Myanmar in 2017, which accounted for 61 percent of total glass and glassware
imports in Myanmar. The second was Thailand, accounting for 15 percent of glass imports,
followed by Malaysia at 13 percent. The value of Myanmar’s construction sector is projected to
reach US$ 13.5 billion in 2020. Therefore, many upcoming modern construction projects are
expected to raise the demand for glass in Myanmar.
State-owned Enterprise

With regard to local production, the Ministry of Industry handed over a glass factory
(Than Hlyin) to the Myanmar Economic Cooperation (MEC) for commercial operations on
17 January 2011. The factory is located on the Yangon-Thilawa Terminal road, Phayagone
village, Than Hlyin Township, Yangon region. The main plant is producing glass bottles, and the
daily production is 20,000 pieces per day. The factory produces glass bottles (350 ml, 650 ml,
680 ml, 700 ml, and 24 ounces). Annual production is 7,500,000 bottles. Raw material is white
sand glass used for production of glass at the glass factory (Thanlyin), which is mainly from
Ahile-Man Island on the Tanintharyi coast.
In addition, there is also the Kyaukse Glass Factory in Kyaukse Township, Mandalay
region. Kyaukse Glass Factory was constructed by the China Construction & Agricultural
Machinery Company (CAMC), and inaugurated on 11 January 2013. The factory has a capacity
of more than 50,000 tons per year, which makes it the top glass factory in Myanmar. The project
was assisted with a 30 million USD concessional loan by China EXIM Bank.
Kyaukse Glass Factory mainly produces tinted glass, clear glass, and mirrors. According
to the Ministry of Industry’s report on its one year performance in April 2017, the factory
produces glass tables incorporating Burmese lacquerware, drawings and traditional carvings
designed by the State Counsellor, as mass production. The aim is to retain market space for
Burmese traditional arts while also using high quality glass. Within six months of production, 20
tables were sold with prices ranging from Ks 1 Lakh to Ks 2 Lakh depending on the designs.
Further production will be carried out according to market demand.
Local Producers
There are many local glass producers which play an important role in the glass and
glassware industry of Myanmar. For example, Sein Nagar Glass Factory is a family business that
has been in operation for more than 15 years. The founder saw great potential in using discarded
glass bottles bought from garbage collectors in Yangon. The melting of bottles and glass blowing
has been handed down in the company. Although the quality can be matched by mass-produced
glassware, each piece has its own unique quality.
 Approval of Glass and Glass Products by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC)
Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) approved US$ 23.192 million on foreign investment
and US$ 28.860 on local investment in manufacturing of glasses. According to MIC, there is five
foreign enterprise and two local enterprise registered and permitted to operate business related to
glass and several of glass’s products.
Foreign Investment existing enterprises (Manufacturing of Glass):
No Permitted Company Country Type of Business Location Investment
date Name Amount
(US$ million)
1. 28-8-2013 Myanmar Korea Manufacturing and Plot No. 2, 3, Main 13.987
Posco C & C marketing of colour Road, Pyin Ma Pin
Co., Ltd. coated steel, rool Industrial Zone
formed color Mingalardon, Tsp,
sheet,(EPS panel, Yangon
urethane panel, glass
wool panel and any
other similar
products
2. 20-8-2015 Qingjian Singapore Manufacturing and Plot No.14 and 15, 5.105
(Myanmar) sales of various Block No. 21, Mya
Enterprise Co., kinds of furniture Sein Yaung
Ltd and construction Industrial Zone,
products made of Hlaing Thar Yar
aluminum, glass, Tsp. Yangon
metal, steel and
woods
3. 11-11- Myanmar Singapore Fabrication, process Plot G-3, No. 20 2.000
2015 Safety Glass and sale of variety of Anawyahtar
Company glass Industrial Zone,
Limited Hlaing Thar Yar
Tsp. Yangon
4. 13-11- WM Quan Dat Vietnam Manufacturing, Plot 4, Myay Taing 0.600
2016 Co., Ltd fabricating, Block No. 18,
installation and sales Shwe Pauk Kan
of aluminium glass Industrial Zone,
and façade North Okkalarba
Tsp. Yangon
5. 10-8-2017 City-Glass China Fabrication, Plot 15, Block No. 1.500
Technology processing and sale 4, Industrial Zone,
Company of variety of glass Hlaing Thar Yar
Limited Tsp. Yangon
 Myanmar Citizen Investment: Existing Enterprises (Manufacturing of Glass):
No. Permitted Name of Company Type of Business Location Investment
date Amount
(US$ million)
1. 20-5-2000 Mandalay Glass Company Manufacturing of all Plot No. 30, 1.45
Limited kinds of Glass Industrial
Zone 2,
Hlaing Thar
Yar Tsp.
Yangon
2. 27-3-2018 International Glass Co., Manufacturing of all Kyaukse 27.410
Ltd kinds of glass and Township,
glass related Mandalay
products Region

Recent and Upcoming Investments

Eurowindow, Vietnam’s leading supplier of doors and façades, signed its first contract in
Myanmar on 16 March 2018 with THE Integrated (Myanmar) Ltd. to supply glass walls for the
Super Hotel project in Thilawa Special Economic Zone. Eurowindow plans to invest up to $120
million in setting up two factories in Myanmar to supplement both local and regional demand.
The company generated revenues of $142 million in 2017 and aims to be the leading supplier of
doors, windows and construction products in the Southeast Asian region. The first factory, which
will have an investment of 15 - 20 million USD, is expected to start in 2019. In the meantime,
AGC Asahi Glass recently announced that it has opened a branch of AGC Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.,
in Yangon city, Myanmar to fulfill demand.
MYANGLASS Expo 2018

MYANGLASS Expo 2018 will be held at MEP Mindama, Yangon during 16 - 18

November 2018. The event is organized by AMB Tarsus Events Groups, which is the region’s
leading exhibition & conference organizer, established in 1996. MYANGLASS 2018 will be
held in conjunction with MYANBUILD 2018: Myanmar’s No.1 International Building &
Construction Industry Exhibition & Conference. MYBUILD 2017 attracted 7,051 visitor over
3 show days with 235 exhibitors and brands from 22 countries.
Conclusion

Since Myanmar has a booming construction industry, there are vast opportunities for
producers, suppliers, and traders in the glass sector. Household items, including glass and
glassware, are included in the list of commodities permitted for wholesale and trading according
to the Ministry of Commerce newsletter in July 2018. Therefore, competition in Myanmar’s
glass sector is expected to rise, creating a bigger market due to increasing demand. To cater to
the increasing demand and to improve the quality of glass production, Myanmar glass and
glassware producers, suppliers, and traders will have to monitor market trends, constantly
upgrade glass processing technologies, and provide more value-added services for customers.
Government agencies and private sector contacts for further information:

Ministry of Planning and Finance

Office No. (1), Nay Pyi Taw
Phone +95 67 407023, 067 407017
Fax +95 67 4077004
Website: www.mopf.gov.mm

Directorate of Investment & Company Administration - DICA (Yangon Head Office)

Office Building No. (1), Thit Sar Road, Yankin Township, Yangon
Phone +95 1 658103
Fax +95 1 658143
Website: www.dica.gov.mm

Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI)

No. (29), Minye Kyaw Swar Street. Lanmadaw Tsp, Yangon, Myanmar
Phone +95 1 214344, 1 214345 – 49, 1 214483, 1 214484
Fax +95 1 2314484
Website: www.umfcci.com.mm

AMB Tarsus Exhibitions (Myanmar) Private Ltd.,

Unit – 805, Hilltop Tower
Hnin Si Gone Rd, Ahlone Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Phone +95 9 2503 71296
Fax: +951 230 1301 to 12 Ext: 2075
Email: [email protected]

Source: www.mecwebsite.com, www.ceramicindustry.com, www.warehouse-asia.com,

www.camce.in, www.mmtimes.com, www.environmental-expert.com, www.trade.nosis.com,
www.mm.china-embassy.org, www.eurocham-myanmar.org, www.glassonline.com,
www.ambtarsus.com