Rains making bricks prices soar

KATHMANDU, Feb 13: Brick manufacturers have increased the price of bricks by Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per thousand units following recent rains, which made it difficult to dry raw bricks, resulting in low production. With the increase in price, customers have to pay Rs 0.5 more for B grade bricks and Rs 0.8 to Rs 1 more for A grade bricks.



The price of A grade bricks, which was selling at Rs 8,000 per thousand units earlier, has increased by Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 and reached Rs 8,800 to Rs 9,000 per thousand units. [break]



Similarly, price of B grade bricks has increased by Rs 500 and is now selling at Rs 7,000 per thousand units.



According to Tirtha Dumaru, proprietor of Chomma Ganesh Itta Bhatta Udhyog, manufacturers have increased the price, mainly because production has dropped due to rainfall. Bricks industry is active mainly from November to January. Normally, the demand is higher during winter when construction picks up momentum.



However, Bishwa Ram Kawan, president of Federation of Brick Manufacturers, said the decision of increasing the price has not been made by the federation but by the traders due to low production.



“The production of bricks has been affected by the rainfall as raw bricks cannot be dried in rainy and cloudy environment. Low production has fueled the prices,” said Kawan.

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