Materials prices
Pans from Thailand tend to be cheaper in the north and most expensive in the south. However, cheap pans from Viet Nam are available. Cement is particularly cheap in Luangnamtha, where competition from China may be holding down prices. Savannakhet and Salavan are also relatively inexpensive for cement — there are cement factories in both provinces. Prices quote for other products tend show less of a pattern. PVC pipe is expensive in the south, but steel and zinc sheeting are not.
Table 24: Materials prices in different provinces (average of suppliers’ selling price), LAK
Item
|
Pan
|
Cement
|
Steel
|
PVC pipe
|
Zinc
|
Quantity
|
1 pan
|
1 bag / 50 kg
|
1 piece
|
1 pipe
|
1 sheet
|
Thai
|
Vietnam
|
Lao green
|
Lao red
|
China
|
Thai
|
Vietnam
|
Thin
|
Thick
|
Thin
|
Thick
|
|
Northern
|
71,947
|
|
39,167
|
39,667
|
37,667
|
44,333
|
|
38,923
|
59,833
|
81,941
|
103,833
|
35,867
|
Bokeo
|
71,273
|
|
40,600
|
40,600
|
|
44,333
|
|
38,727
|
62,800
|
94,700
|
127,500
|
37,909
|
Luangnamtha
|
72,875
|
|
32,000
|
35,000
|
37,667
|
|
|
40,000
|
45,000
|
63,714
|
92,000
|
30,250
|
Central
|
74,167
|
66,667
|
37,417
|
40,417
|
|
|
39,667
|
40,462
|
65,000
|
67,667
|
160,000
|
25,563
|
Borikhamxay
|
73,750
|
66,667
|
38,750
|
38,750
|
|
|
39,667
|
37,667
|
|
70,714
|
160,000
|
24,750
|
Savannakhet
|
74,375
|
|
36,750
|
41,250
|
|
|
|
42,857
|
65,000
|
65,000
|
|
26,375
|
Southern
|
86,211
|
69,500
|
45,263
|
47,813
|
|
|
|
36,737
|
33,000
|
84,063
|
117,143
|
26,950
|
Attapeu
|
83,300
|
28,000
|
50,600
|
51,714
|
|
|
|
35,100
|
|
96,000
|
122,500
|
29,000
|
Salavan
|
91,667
|
110,000
|
34,400
|
39,400
|
|
|
|
38,143
|
33,000
|
74,375
|
110,000
|
23,000
|
Sekong
|
85,000
|
30,000
|
45,500
|
51,500
|
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
90,000
|
|
27,750
|
Concrete producers also report different prices for some inputs. However, these price differences might reflect quality differences (cement from Viet Nam for example). In general, concrete prices are lower in the North and Centre than in the South. As in above, cement in Luangnamtha (particularly Sing district) is cheaper than many other areas. Cement is also reported to be cheap in Khamkeut and Salavan.
Table 25: Price paid by concrete producers for cement (LAK per ton)
Province
|
District
|
Price
|
Difference from Lao Cement ‘Green’ factory gate price
|
Bokeo
|
Houay Xai
|
750,000
|
17.2%
|
|
Phaoudom
|
900,000
|
40.6%
|
Luangnamtha
|
Sing
|
670,000
|
4.7%
|
|
Long
|
800,000
|
25.0%
|
Borikhamxay
|
Khamkeut
|
645,000
|
0.8%
|
|
Vienthong
|
790,000
|
23.4%
|
Savannakhet
|
Xonnabuly
|
764,000
|
19.4%
|
|
Atsaphone
|
780,000
|
21.9%
|
|
Nong
|
775,000
|
21.1%
|
Attapeu
|
Sanamxay
|
833,333
|
30.2%
|
|
Samakheexai
|
850,000
|
32.8%
|
Salavan
|
Salavan
|
700,000
|
9.4%
|
|
Ta-Oy
|
800,000
|
25.0%
|
|
Samoi
|
900,000
|
40.6%
|
Sekong
|
Lamarm
|
856,000
|
33.8%
|
|
Dakcheung
|
1,200,000
|
87.5%
|
|
Kaleum
|
825,000
|
28.9%
|
Notes: Sample size is small (in some districts only 1 concrete producer interviewed).
Lao Cement’s “Green” brand is around 640,000 LAK per ton when bought at the Vientiane factory. However, the prices quoted by concrete producers may be for different quality cement (Lao Red, for example). Hence, these are intended to present margins, but rather a guide to cost differences between provinces and districts.
According to concrete producers’ selling prices, concrete rings are significantly cheaper in the north than in the central and southern provinces (Table 26). 100cm concrete rings in the south are on average 42% more expensive than in the north.
Table 26: Price of concrete rings in different provinces (average of producers’ selling price)
Region – Province
|
80 cm rings
|
100 cm rings
|
Northern
|
53,800
|
68,333
|
Bokeo
|
44,750
|
58,750
|
Luangnamtha
|
90,000
|
87,500
|
Central
|
68,333
|
84,444
|
Borikhamxay
|
75,000
|
93,333
|
Savannakhet
|
65,000
|
80,000
|
Southern
|
82,857
|
97,083
|
Attapeu
|
86,667
|
106,000
|
Salavan
|
80,000
|
96,250
|
Sekong
|
80,000
|
83,333
|
Total sample
|
69,944
|
86,481
|
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