The demand for construction materials is expected to increase significantly in the coming months as the earthquake has damaged more than 300,000 houses across the country.
"Brick production was already low due to rainfall which damaged hundreds of unbaked bricks," Mahindra Bahadur Chitrakar, president of Federation of Nepal Brick Industries (FNBI). "The earthquake of April 25 damaged most of the brick kilns operating in the country, affecting brick production."According to Chitrakar, only four brick kilns, out of 112 registered in Kathmandu Valley, have resumed full-fledged operation after the earthquake. "Not only Kathmandu Valley, even kilns outside the Valley have not been able to start full-fledged operation," he added.
Chitrakar further added that the market will see acute shortage of bricks when repair of damaged buildings and construction of new buildings gain pace. "Supply will be affected if all brick kilns failed to resume full-fledged operation," he added.
There are around 800 brick kilns across the country. One kiln can produce one to eight million bricks annually depending on their production capacity.
"Demand for bricks in Kathmandu was already high. Many construction companies used to purchase bricks from kilns outside the Valley, especially from those in Tarai, as demand has outpaced production," he added
According to Chitrakar, brick kilns in the Valley have around 200,000 bricks in stock. He hinted at rise in price, but said the price won't go up significantly.
Contractors also say the market will see shortage of bricks if possible measures are not taken on time. Talking to Republica, Jay Ram Lamichhane, president of Federation of Contractors' Association of Nepal (FCAN), said "As majority of brick kilns across the country has been damaged, brick production will come down significantly. This is certain to create shortage."
Lamichhane suggests brick kiln operators and the government to do the needful to avert the shortage. "If local kilns are not in a position to start full-fledged production, the government should mull allowing contractors to import bricks from India," he added. "It should waive off taxes on Indian bricks for some time."
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