The steel industry is the backbone of Bangladesh’s infrastructure and construction sector, and a major driver of national economic growth. Dominated by a few large conglomerates, the industry has rapidly modernized, transitioning from traditional re-rolling mills to highly automated, integrated steel plants. Located primarily in the port city of Chattogram (Chittagong), the industry has a combined annual production capacity that significantly exceeds domestic demand, presenting a strong opportunity for future exports.The market is driven by:
- Mega Infrastructure Projects: Government initiatives like the Padma Bridge, Dhaka Metro Rail, and major power plants drive massive consumption of steel.
- Real Estate Growth: Rapid urbanization and a growing middle class fuel demand for residential and commercial construction materials.
- Technology Adoption: Most top-tier companies have adopted European TMT (Thermo-Mechanically Treated) technology to produce high-strength reinforcement bars (rebar), meeting national and international quality standards.
The following list is ranked based on production capacity, market share, brand equity, and revenue performance, representing the industry’s leaders in 2024.
Top 10 Steel Companies in Bangladesh by Capacity and Market Share
| No. | Company Name | Founding Date (Approx.) | Primary Focus | Key Products |
| 1 | BSRM Group (Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills) | 1952 | Market Leader & Pioneer | Xtreme 500W+ Rebar, Billets, Industrial Fasteners |
| 2 | Abul Khair Steel (AKS) | 1993 | Integrated, Diversified Steel | AKS Rebar, Colour Coated Steel (Goru Marka Dhew Tin) |
| 3 | Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills (KSRM) | 1984 | Premium Quality Steel | KSRM TMT Rebar, Billets, European POMINI technology |
| 4 | GPH Ispat Limited | 2006 | Integrated Steel Plant, Technology Focused | TMT Rebar, Billets (Quantum Electric Arc Furnace) |
| 5 | PHP Family (PHP Steels/Ispat) | 1999 | Flat Steel & Integrated Projects | Flat Steel Sheets, TMT Rebar, Integrated Steel Plant Initiative |
| 6 | Anwar Group of Industries (Anwar Ispat) | 1978 | Long-standing Player, Quality Focus | MS Rods, TMT Bars, Structural Sections |
| 7 | Bashundhara Steel | 2005 (Steel initiatives) | New Capacity, Large Conglomerate Backing | TMT Rebar, Structural Steel |
| 8 | Ratanpur Steel Re-Rolling Mills Ltd. (RSRM) | 1984 | Re-Rolling Specialist, Market Presence | TMT Bars, MS Rods, Structural Steel |
| 9 | SS Steel Limited | 2008 (Acquisitions) | Growth by Acquisition, Mid-Market Leader | SS Tiger TMT Bar, MS Rods |
| 10 | Elite Iron & Steel Ind. Ltd. | 1983 | Pioneer/Integrated Operations | Structural Steel, MS Rods |
Detailed Company Profiles, Client Base, and Portfolio
1. BSRM Group (Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills)
- Founding Date: 1952 (Oldest and largest steel manufacturer in Bangladesh).
- Location: Headquartered in Chattogram.
- Clientele/Portfolio: The market leader with the highest production capacity (over 1.9 million MT annually). BSRM is the most recognized brand for large-scale national infrastructure projects (Padma Bridge, Metro Rail) and premium residential construction. Products include BSRM Xtreme 500W+ TMT Rebar, billets, and the new strategic focus on industrial fasteners (bolts and nuts). The Group includes publicly listed entities BSRM Limited and BSRM Steels Limited.
- Website: https://bsrm.com/
2. Abul Khair Steel (AKS)
- Founding Date: Started steel operations in 1993. Part of the Abul Khair Group.
- Location: Chattogram.
- Clientele/Portfolio: Known as the largest multi-diversified steel company in South-East Asia. AKS is a market giant in both long steel (rebar) and flat steel products. Key products include AKS Rebar (TMT) and their iconic flat steel products like Cow Brand Colour Coated Steel (Goru Marka Dhew Tin) and Zinkalum, serving the residential and roofing markets across the nation.
- Website: https://abulkhairsteel.com/
3. Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills (KSRM)
- Founding Date: 1984. A concern of the Kabir Group of Industries.
- Location: Chattogram.
- Clientele/Portfolio: Positions itself as a premium quality steelmaker. KSRM has an annual capacity of over 800,000 MT, achieved through advanced European POMINI technology in its automated rolling mills. Its products, primarily high-strength TMT rebar, are used in high-rise commercial and infrastructure projects.
- Services: Produces reinforced steel, deformed bars, and billets with a strong focus on environmental sustainability.
- Website: https://ksrm.com.bd/
4. GPH Ispat Limited
- Founding Date: 2006 (Went public in 2012).
- Location: Chattogram.
- Clientele/Portfolio: Known for its highly technological, integrated steel plant. GPH uses advanced processes like the Quantum Electric Arc Furnace and Level-2 Automation Systems, enabling an annual production capacity of approximately 1 million MT. Its products are vital for major civil engineering works and construction.
- Services: Produces high-quality TMT Rebar and Billets.
- Website: www.gphispat.com.bd
5. PHP Family (PHP Steels/Ispat)
- Founding Date: PHP Steels started in 1999.
- Location: Chattogram.
- Clientele/Portfolio: A major flat steel manufacturer and an ambitious player in the integrated steel segment. The PHP Family has announced plans to build Bangladesh’s first-ever integrated steel plant, encompassing finished and semi-finished products with a multi-billion Taka investment. PHP provides steel sheets, coils, and TMT bars.
- Services: Flat steel manufacturing, TMT bars (PHP Ispat Limited), and export services.
- Website: www.phpgroupbd.com
6. Anwar Group of Industries (Anwar Ispat)
- Founding Date: One of the oldest in the sector, operating since 1978.
- Location: Dhaka and Chattogram.
- Clientele/Portfolio: A long-standing, trusted name that adopted state-of-the-art European quenching and TMT process technology. Anwar Ispat produces MS Rods, high-strength TMT bars, and various structural sections. It also engages in exporting its mild steel products.
- Services: MS Rods, Deformed Bars, and export of steel products.
- Website: www.anwargroup.com/anwar-ispat
7. Bashundhara Steel
- Founding Date: Steel production initiatives started around 2005. Part of the vast Bashundhara Group.
- Location: Dhaka and Gazipur.
- Clientele/Portfolio: Leveraging the immense financial strength and vertical integration of the Bashundhara Group (cement, real estate, media), Bashundhara Steel focuses on providing raw materials for the group’s own construction projects and the external market. They are major producers of TMT rebar and structural steel, adding large capacity to the market.
- Services: TMT bars and other structural steel sections.
- Website: www.bashundharagroup.com
8. Ratanpur Steel Re-Rolling Mills Ltd. (RSRM)
- Founding Date: 1984.
- Location: Chattogram.
- Clientele/Portfolio: A long-established and widely distributed brand in the local construction material market. RSRM focuses on high-quality re-rolling and producing TMT bars of various grades (500W, 40, 60 grade) for small to medium-scale construction projects across Bangladesh.
- Services: TMT bars, MS rods, and other re-rolled steel products.
- Website: www.rsrmbd.com
9. SS Steel Limited
- Founding Date: Incorporated in 2008; listed in 2019.
- Location: Production facilities in Tongi, Dhaka.
- Clientele/Portfolio: Known for its aggressive growth strategy through strategic acquisitions (including Saleh Steel and Al-Falah Steel), significantly boosting its annual production capacity to approximately 500,000 tonnes of MS rod. Key products include SS Tiger TMT bars, popular in the mid-market segment.
- Services: MS rod manufacturing, with a focus on streamlining operations for efficiency and profitability.
- Website: https://sssteel.biz/
10. Elite Iron & Steel Ind. Ltd.
- Founding Date: Established in 1983. Part of the Elite Group of Industries.
- Location: Dhaka.
- Clientele/Portfolio: Recognised as one of the pioneers and, at one point, the first integrated steel plant in Bangladesh. Elite manufactures structural sections and MS Rods. It caters to construction and industrial demands with a focus on maintaining its long-standing reputation for quality.
- Services: Integrated steel manufacturing, structural bars, and MS Rods.
- Website: https://elitesteel.com.bd/
Conclusion
The Bangladeshi steel industry is robust, highly competitive, and essential to national development. Leaders like BSRM and AKS anchor the market with massive capacity and strong brand loyalty, while technologically advanced firms like GPH Ispat are driving modernization. The next phase of growth will be marked by increased vertical integration (local billet production), a focus on industrial fasteners and specialized steel products, and capitalizing on the significant export potential to neighboring countries, ensuring the sector remains a pillar of the economy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is the difference between Re-rolling and Integrated Steel Plants?
Re-rolling (most common in Bangladesh) melts scrap iron/steel into billets, which are then rolled into finished rebar. Integrated plants start from scratch, using raw materials like iron ore and coal to produce steel (a highly capital-intensive process).
TMT (Thermo-Mechanically Treated) Rebar is the modern standard for reinforcement steel. It uses advanced quenching and tempering processes to give the bar a soft inner core and a tough outer layer, increasing its strength, ductility, and resistance to corrosion and earthquakes.
The industry is concentrated in Chattogram because steel manufacturing relies heavily on imported raw materials (scrap iron/billets, coal). The city’s deep-sea port allows for efficient and cost-effective import of these bulk materials, reducing logistical costs significantly.
While the total installed capacity is over 8-9 million metric tonnes, the current domestic demand for finished steel products is generally estimated to be around 4 to 5 million metric tonnes annually.
The BSRM Group is widely recognized as the market leader in the rebar segment, consistently commanding the highest market share (estimated at over 25%) due to its premium branding and wide distribution network.
