Ice Makers Put Up Prices As Temperatures Soar

[george]

Ice makers put up prices as temperatures soar

UBON RATCHATHANI: -- Temperatures are set to hit 37-39 degrees Celsius in Thailand's north-eastern province of Ubon Ratchathani over the next few days, but one business sector is thriving in the heat: ice manufacturing.

According to reports from the province, sales of both crushed ice and ice cubes are on the rise, with demand growing further as Songkran revellers use ice to add a bit of cool to the water throwing festivities.

As a result, ice factories are struggling to keep up with demand, and ice sellers are having to place orders at factories in other provinces.

Citing the higher transportation costs involved, shops selling ice have put up the price of a one kilogram bag from Bt5 to Bt6, and a 20 kilogram bag of crushed ice now costs Bt40, compared to Bt30 a short while ago.

In part the industry has fallen victim to the rising cost of diesel, with sellers saying that this alone has added greatly to the cost of transportation.

--TNA 2005-04-11