Mizzima News

Chiang Mai – Price of bricks has spiralled to nearly 66 per cent in the aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Nargis that lashed parts of Burma.

The price of a cake of brick was Kyat 60 before May 2 this year. Now it is Kyat 100.

"Before the cyclone a brick cost only Kyat 60 now some shops are selling it at up to Kyat 100 a piece. The prices vary from shop to shop," a shopkeeper who sells bricks in Mingalartaungnyunt in Rangoon said.

Traders, however, have a different take on the sharp price rise of bricks.

"Brick production was incomplete when Nargis struck Burma. The unfinished bricks were left on the sites, which led to the drastic price rise and shortage in the market," a brick trader from Dagon satellite township said.

But another trader from 'Aung Phyo Kyaw', who owns a sand, gravel, bricks and building material shop in Rangoon, said that this was the seasonal price rise usually noticeable in monsoon when there is also a shortage of bricks in the market.

"This price rise is due to seasonal scarcity of bricks in the market in monsoons. All the brick kilns have to stop their operations during this season," he said.

The hand-made bricks are produced in Hmawbi, Taikyi, Laydaungkan in Rangoon Division and Dapain, Satalin in Irrawaddy Division.

Similarly Cyclone Nargis destroyed the salt industry in Irrawaddy Division. This industry ranked third in the Irrawaddy delta region's economy and the cyclone destroyed over 60 per cent of the salt production in the region. This pushed up salt prices.  

The usual construction season starts this month and continues till  April. For this open season, builders store enough stock for their construction projects.