Samsung to restart smartphone production in Bangladesh after 18-month pause

Dhaka: Samsung is set to resume smartphone manufacturing in Bangladesh through its local partner Fair Electronics after an 18-month suspension, with locally assembled handsets expected to return to the market in January 2027.

The move marks Samsung's return to local smartphone production and is expected to boost Bangladesh's electronics manufacturing sector. The South Korean brand was the first global smartphone maker to assemble handsets in the country through Fair Electronics.

Fair Electronics said smartphone production had remained suspended since mid-2024 due to a challenging business environment triggered by the sharp depreciation of the taka and the need to upgrade production facilities for 5G devices.

The company has invested around BDT 1,000 crore in its manufacturing operations, including about BDT 300 crore for smartphone production. Its factory in Shibpur, Narsingdi, has the capacity to produce 2.5 million handsets annually, although officials said production is unlikely to reach full capacity in the first year.

Samsung refrigerators are already being manufactured at the facility, while washing machine production is scheduled to begin in September. Air conditioners, televisions, and smartphones are expected to enter production in early 2027.

South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Kim Ji-Joon visited the factory on July 21 along with Samsung Bangladesh Managing Director Jungmin Jung and Fair Group Chairman Md Ruhul Alam Al Mahbub.