AKS now country’s largest steel maker

• Abul Khair Steel opens new rolling mill
• Plant boosts capacity to 30 lakh tonnes
• AKS overtakes BSRM as top steelmaker
• New facility creates 3,000 industrial jobs

Abul Khair Steel Ltd (AKS) has inaugurated a new rebar rolling mill, taking its annual capacity beyond that of any other steelmaker in the country, a press release from the group said yesterday.

Located in Sitakunda in the southeastern division of Chattogram, the facility has an annual production capacity of 16 lakh tonnes of deformed bars or steel, pushing AKS's total steelmaking capacity to 30 lakh tonnes per year — the highest in the country.

This places AKS ahead of its closest competitor, BSRM, which has an annual capacity of 24 lakh tonnes.

With this, Bangladesh's steel production capacity has reached a new high of around 1.36 crore tonnes.

Constructed by SMS group, a German multinational engineering company, AKS said the new mill has achieved "a world-record rolling speed," which "reflects significant investment in advanced rolling technology and automation."

The commissioning comes at a time when the government is not investing heavily in infrastructure and the construction sector is suffering from a slowdown.

By strengthening local production, the plant is expected to reduce the country's dependence on imports, boost industrial employment, and support supply chain development in the Chattogram region. The company did not disclose the amount of its investment in the new facility.

Sheikh Shabab Ahmed, group head of corporate affairs and legal at Abul Khair Group, said the commissioning of the mill marks a significant step forward in supporting Bangladesh's infrastructure vision.

"This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainable growth and national development," he said.

Abul Khair Group said the new facility has already created over 3,000 new jobs and will produce globally benchmarked, high-strength steel.