The Rod prices, the main input material in construction, has gone up by around 20 percent in a year in the local market, raising costs in the construction and real estate industry, reports UNB.
Rods or rebar is the steel bar or mesh of steel wires used as a tension device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures to strengthen construction and keep them standing.
Rebar millers said the price has gone up for various costs, including import costs, such as the price of inputs of their own, the strong US dollar, higher transport costs and congestion at the ports.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the Rod prices of 60-grade is increased by around 18 percent, while the price of 40-grade increased by around 17 percent compared to the last year’s.
“60-grade MS rod/rebar, or better quality, is being sold from Tk 62,000 to Tk 65,000 per ton which was Tk 53,500 to Tk 54,500 in December, 2017. On the other hand, 40-grade MS rod is being sold at Tk 56,500 to Tk 58,000 per ton, which was earlier on sale for Tk 48,500-Tk 49,500 per ton during the same period,” the TCB also mentioned.
Meanwhile, traders in Old Dhaka, the hub of the country’s market for rods, say their business is on the wane. Their sales are suffering and even loading and unloading of their goods in the narrow and unfriendly lanes is getting difficult, and most of them are counting losses.
Now business men are selling BSRM rod at Tk 66,000 per ton that has somewhat increased compared to the last year. However, once a total of 18 shops were in Old Dhaka those who sell rebar. Now more than 300 shops have sprung up here. Besides, there is no space to build any more here. Some people are setting up in rural areas though many shops are there. Even manufacturers have appointed dealers in villages. So village people don’t purchase rod from this market over transport cost.
BSRM, Rahim Steel, Bandar Steel Industry Ltd, and Abul Khair Steel Mills Ltd, the main players in the country’s thriving steel industry, are playing a major role in the price of rods.
Without providing their source, they also added that BSRM has “30 percent of the country’s rod market”. About 20 percent market share is apparently held by Rahim Steel, Bandor Steel, and Abul Khair Steel Ltd.
A few other companies like Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills (KSRM), Ratanpur Rerolling Mills (RSRM), Anwar Ispat Ltd, Shafiul Alam steel, and Shahriar Steel Mills hold the remaining 50 percent market share.
Traders of Narayanganj, another hub of the rod trade in the country, say the price is high there too but business is not down. Each ton of non-grade rod was selling at Tk 52,000 to Tk 58,000 while the quality grade at Tk 60,000 to Tk 68,00 per ton.
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