Some of the private concrete manufacturers in Mawlamyine were forced to stop their operation due to the sudden rise of cement prices.

A bag of cement only cost around 6000 kyats previously but currently it has risen to almost 20000 kyats per bag, a private concrete operator said.

“No labour fees are included yet. The price of the raw materials has tripled. And, we haven’t received as many orders as last year, so it becomes uneconomical. We will restart operations when we get the orders. But the operations will remain stopped the rest of the time”, he explained.

Manufacturing of concrete pillars, cement bricks and concrete arcs were also halted after concrete prices rose to nearly 20000 kyats per bag, he added.

Cement, bricks and concrete arcs are used in construction of roads, bridges, buildings and houses. At present, all of the construction projects are forced to stop according to a construction material merchant from Mawlamyine.

“We rely on construction projects. There is no order right now because all of the construction projects are suspended”, he said.

At the moment, only huge enterprises can continue their operations, he noted.

Similarly, private concrete manufacturers in Ye Township start ceasing their business operations.