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Building costs peak before monsoon
(Volume 26, No. 520)
A labourer works on a pandal along Kabar Aye Pagoda Road before Thingyan. Pic: Aye Zaw Myo
MOST construction materials are still priced towards the high end, though below record highs set in previous years, wholesale and retail suppliers say.
As the peak season for construction draws to a close, teak was selling for K1.8 million a tonne, while pyinkadoe was K850,000 and inkanyin was K400,000, the same as last year, sources said.
Inkanyin prices will probably rise in May because of a supply shortage, said U Cho, the owner of Hein timber shop at Kyeemyindaing township.
“During Thingyan, inkanyin was used in pandals and house repairs, so our stockpile was depleted compared to last year,” said U Cho.
While pyinkadoe and inkanyin prices are expected to fall by K100,000-K150,000 a tonne when the rainy season comes, the price of teak, which is used more for interiors and furniture, should remain steady, said a spokesperson from another timber wholesale shop in South Okkalapa.
During the rainy season, timber sales typically fall by 20-30 percent, he said, though after Cyclone Nargis, pyinkadoe and inkanyin prices increased.
Meanwhile, a 50 kilogram bag of imported Elephant cement was selling for K6600 last week, down from K7500 in March. Prices for Diamond and other brands are about K6000, according to Aung Myitta construction material wholesale shop.
This time last year Elephant cement was K8500, but this year supplies are more plentiful, said Daw Ei Thaw Dar, the spokesperson of Three Friends construction material wholesale shops.
“It increased to more than K7000 on New Year’s Day after Thingyan because of the supply shortage, but now the price is back to normal,” she said.
Brick prices are K45-50, reflecting lower transport costs, but will increase by about K5 at the end of May when the factories close for the rainy season, sources say.
“The price should have risen compared to last year, but has been held back by cool demand,” said Ko Than Naing Win, owner of Shwe Oat Or brick wholesale shop.
Sand was K18,000 per 400 cubic feet, down from last year’s price of nearly K20,000, while pebbles were down to K65,000 per hole (400 cubic foot) from K67,000-70,000 last year, said a spokesperson from Aung Si Taw construction materials shop at South Dagon township.
