Four manufacturers of corrugated roofing sheets -- Rajesh Metal Crafts, Hulas Steel Industries, Aarati and Bhagawati Steel Industries – announced the price by publishing separate public notices on Sunday and Monday.
"We have fixed the price of corrugated roofing sheets to make sure that price does not increase despite rising demand in the market," Bhanu Bhattarai, assistant manager of Bhagawati Steels Industries, said.Bhattarai told Republica that retailers will be allowed to keep profit margin of only around five percent for a certain period.
As per the legal provision, traders can enjoy profit of up to 20 percent.
"Our price is inclusive of transportation cost and load-unload charge. Change in foreign exchange rates, fuel price and transportation cost, however, can change the price," he added.
The manufacturers fixed public price after the government directed traders and businesspeople not to increase price of their products. The demand for corrugated roofing sheets has increased manifolds after the earthquake which destroyed more than 700,000 houses across the country, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA).
Manufacturers have also fixed price of corrugated roofing sheets for different places. Hulas Steel Industries, for example, has fixed separate rates for Kathmandu Valley, Banepa, Dhading, Dumre, Manthali, Charikot, Jiri, Gorkha, Pokhara, Damauli, Syangja and Baglung depending on type and weight of corrugated sheets.
Similarly, Aarati Industries has announced separate price for places like Pokhara, Narayanghat, Kathmandu Valley, Banepa, Dumre and Trishuli.
Manufacturers say it would take around a month to produce corrugated sheets to meet the market demand. "As monsoon is regarded as off-season for production of corrugated roofing sheets, we don't have sufficient finished product as well as raw materials in stock," Bhattarai informed.
Manufacturers say they can meet demand for corrugated roofing sheets only if they operate to their full capacity. "We can meet the demand if production goes smoothly for at least a month," Bhattarai said.
According to manufacturers, erratic power supply and lack of manpower are affecting production of corrugated roofing sheets. "Only around 75 percent of the workforce has turned up for work after the earthquake," added Bhattarai.
The demand for corrugated roofing sheets stands at around 200 tons at present, according to the traders.
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