Construction materials should be allowed to be imported
CNI News
31 May 2025
The current problems could be reduced if imports of construction materials are allowed to proceed smoothly, as there is a high demand for construction materials, U Myo Myint, Secretary General of the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Federation (MCEF), told CNI News.
The current demand for construction materials far exceeds the amount that could be produced domestically, so if the required amount was allowed to be imported, the problem would be solved, he said .
"The Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) is holding meetings to quickly obtain construction materials. The main thing is that if the government allows imports of what are needed locally, I think the current shortage of construction materials will be reduced. For example, we can only produce 5,000 tons of a product within the country that needs 10,000 tons; if we allow 5,000 tons to be imported, I think that would be a solution," said U Myo Myint.
While cement is being imported
Only about 780,000 tons of cement were allowed to be imported from abroad between 2021 and July 2024.
Businessmen and construction workers have pointed out that during the current earthquake disaster, more imports of cement and other construction materials should be allowed to be imported than now.
Government-run media outlets have announced that foreign cement will soon be arriving, that locally produced cement will be sold in earthquake-hit areas, and that cement imports are being allowed through the Kawthaung border trade post.
In addition, Myanmar imports about (92) percent of its iron and steel needs from abroad, and imports about (3) million tons of iron/steel and related products annually, and steel demand is expected to increase to about (5.4) million tons per year starting from 2030, according to Myanmar Iron and Steel Association (MISA).
While cement is being imported
Currently, construction companies are facing difficulties from all sides, and are just waiting for the time to resume operations for the economy, U Maung Maung, chairman of Shwe Gabar Maung Maung Construction, told CNI News.
"After the earthquake, things changed a little. Workers also found jobs. Workers used to go abroad to make a living and raise their families. They say that the income abroad is better than what they earn within the country. We are not doing much construction work. We are in a somewhat waiting situation economically," he said.
Currently, construction activity is low due to difficulties in purchasing construction materials and other issues as a result of the earthquake, according to business owners.
The government has set a price of 17,000 kyats per bag of cement for earthquake-affected buildings, but it is difficult to buy it on the ground, and the price is reportedly as high as 40,000 kyats.
