According to a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper on July 5, at the sandbanks along the Da River (in Hoa Binh Ward, Phu Tho Province), many sandbanks have stopped operating due to no longer having goods.
After experiencing a record increase, construction sand prices have shown signs of cooling down. However, in July, prices began to increase again in the context of continued scarcity of supply, while demand during the construction season increased sharply.
Previously, the reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper in Hoa Binh Ward (Hoa Binh City) at the end of May showed that the price of construction sand increased from 100,000 VND/m3 to about 300,000 VND/m3. Gold sand has skyrocketed from 500,000 VND/m3 to 700,000 VND/m3 - the highest level in many years.
By mid-June, the market had a period of stagnation, but now there have been signs of a slight increase. Currently, the price of black sand at the beach fluctuates around 250,000 VND/m3. However, according to many owners, this price is for reference only because... there is no goods to sell.
"In the past few days, we have run out of stock. There is no sand left to sell. Before, there were dozens of cars coming in and out every day, now there are no more cars. Workers are off, machinery is gone" - said a yard owner in Hoa Binh ward.
Mr. Dung, the owner of a sandbank in (old Trung Minh ward - now Hoa Binh ward) said: "We have tried to gather goods from many sources but there is not enough supply. Meanwhile, the cost of renting premises and paying for workers must remain the same. Without goods and costs that arise every day, it is very difficult to stay.
The shortage has spread to the transportation and construction sectors. Mr. Nguyen Van Dai, a sand transport driver, said: "I have to go to Hoa Binh to get goods because there are no more operating yards in Thanh Hoa. Currently, the price of sand at the beach is 250,000 VND/m3, but when it comes to Thach Thanh (Thanh Hoa), it has increased to 430,000 - 450,000 VND/m3, depending on the location. Unstable input prices make it difficult for transport vehicles to maintain".
At civil works, some households have had to temporarily stop construction due to lack of materials. "I am building a house, calling for sand all week and not receiving any orders. Workers had to take a day off because there were no materials. The price has increased but I still cannot buy, said Mr. Tuan, Tan Hoa ward.
According to the investigation of Lao Dong Newspaper, the reason for the current sand shortage is that some mines have to temporarily suspend exploitation to complete legal procedures. In addition, there are weather factors and tightening management of river resource exploitation. Meanwhile, the demand for construction materials is increasing sharply after the merger of administrative units, many projects are simultaneously starting.
Many owners and transportation businesses have recommended that localities soon have solutions to regulate supply, speed up licensing procedures for mines that are qualified to operate, control the market, avoid hoarding and local price increases.
