Noman Spinning Division, part of Noman Group, is a leading force in Bangladesh’s textile industry, known for its vast spinning capabilities and innovative approach. Founded with a commitment to excellence, the company operates with over 496,000 spindles and 18,000 rotors, producing approximately 450 tons of yarn daily. Noman Spinning works with a wide range of fibers, including cotton, viscose, lyocell, polyester, flax, jute, and hemp, along with unique local materials like pineapple and banana fibers, which are used to create sustainable fabrics for home textiles. The company prioritizes research and development to ensure high-quality products and collaborates closely with industry partners, including buyers who invest in its R&D projects for customized solutions.
Noman Spinning’s portfolio includes specialized yarn blends, such as cotton-nylon, polyester-nylon, and cotton-polyester-nylon blends, setting it apart in the competitive market. Notably, they are the largest producer of linen yarn in Bangladesh and have collaborated with institutions like DUET to pioneer jute-cotton blend fabrics for commercial use in home textiles. In response to challenges from rising energy and raw material costs, Noman Spinning has implemented energy-saving strategies, such as generator-based power solutions and solar energy initiatives. The company is also exploring full automation and technological upgrades to enhance efficiency and reduce production costs, ensuring a sustainable future in the spinning industry and bolstering Bangladesh’s textile sector competitiveness on a global scale.
Recently Textile Focus interviewed Engr. Md. Enamul Karim, Executive Director, Spinning Division, Noman Group.
This visionary person with more than 23 years of experience in the arena of spinning and spinning technology, has opened up a wealth of industry insider aspects in the spinning arena which can be a food for thought and inspiration for the spinners and all associated with spinning.
Read the full conversation here-
Textile Focus: We know you have extensive experience in the textile sector. Could you tell us about your professional journey?
Enamul Karim: I was a student of the 21st batch at Bangladesh Textile Engineering College. After completing my education in 1999, I started my career in February 2000, joining as a Production Officer at Padma Textile Mills. After working in various industries, I joined Noman Group in 2009, and I’ve been here for the past 15 years. Since 2015, I have been responsible for the total spinning operations at Noman Group.
Textile Focus: Could you share your thoughts on the current scenario of the spinning industry?
Enamul Karim: Since February 2023, when gas prices increased, running our spinning mills has become challenging due to high power consumption. Previously, we had access to affordable gas from natural sources. However, after February, the sudden 87% increase in gas prices made costs nearly double, significantly impacting our production costs per kilogram. Additionally, we raised workers’ salaries by about 45% in 2024 due to various factors. Despite the gas price hike, we haven’t received a proportional gas supply, leading to a drop in production. For the past six months, we’ve faced a significant gas crisis, though the situation has slightly improved over the last 10 days. This increase in gas costs, higher labor wages, and limited gas availability presents significant challenges. On top of that, opening L/Cs (Letters of Credit) on time for raw materials and machinery parts has become difficult due to banking issues. The interest rate on bank loans has also increased from 9% last year to 13-15% this year. In summary, our competitive advantage of low production costs has diminished, putting us behind countries like India, Pakistan, and China. Inflation has also placed Bangladesh’s spinning industry in a critical position. In my 25 years of experience, I would say we are facing a more difficult time than expected.
Textile Focus: Noman Group is currently a leader in spinning in Bangladesh. Can you share an overview of Noman Group’s spinning operations?
Enamul Karim: Currently, a part of our Noman Group operates under Saad Group, managed by our chairman’s daughter, with around 134,000 spindles and 2,600 rotors. Noman Group itself has around 496,000 spindles and 18,000 rotors. Together, our two groups produce approximately 450 tons daily. We use various fibers, such as cotton, viscose, lyocell, polyester, flax, jute, and hemp, along with some local fibers like pineapple and banana fibers, which we’ve used to make commercial fabrics for home textiles. Since we export fabrics, we conduct R&D to produce quality yarns for our fabric production. Some buyers also invest in our R&D, benefiting from this investment for their projects.
Textile Focus: What exceptional types of yarn does Noman Group produce that set it apart from other factories?
Enamul Karim: We create cotton-nylon, polyester-nylon, and polyester-cotton-nylon blends. We’ve made yarn using a cotton-nylon blend, which we also developed into various fabrics in collaboration with DUET (Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology). We commercially produce jute-cotton blend yarn for home textiles. China currently focuses heavily on polyester-based artificial fibers like viscose, modal, and lyocell alongside cotton. Noman Group also produces various tri-blend fabrics at our production house, such as the cotton-viscose-polyester blend we’re making for H&M. We are the largest producer of linen yarn in Bangladesh’s spinning industry.
Textile Focus: As an established leader among large industries, what is Noman Group’s future plan?
Enamul Karim: We have no immediate plans to expand spinning operations. With the high costs of electricity and gas, we’re working on generator-based power supply solutions and exploring solar systems. We’re also researching low-power motors to reduce energy consumption during production. We’re focused on technology advancement and automation. The garment sector in Bangladesh is very strong, and sustaining the spinning sector is essential to keep the garment sector competitive. We need to consider how to create fully automated spinning factories that require minimal manpower. China already has such technology, and we must implement it here; otherwise, staying competitive will be challenging. Efficient manpower management and power consumption reduction are crucial for the spinning sector now.
