Aggregate and river sand short of supply

Construction companies have said that they are facing a shortage in the supply of aggregate and river sand in the country, and that it is hard estimate when they will be available back in the market.

Shahid Ali, Managing Director of the one of the main suppliers of construction materials State Trading Organization (STO) told Sun Online today that the company currently has a small amount of aggregate and river sand in their storage and thus, are currently only supplying companies that are carrying out government projects. Shahid added that aggregate and river sand will be available from the company’s branches in the atolls, but said that their stock is also limited.

“Our aggregate and river sand stock is quite low. So we are currently supplying to government projects only. We don’t really have enough for sale,” Shahid said.

STO Managing Director said that they are currently carrying out talks with parties in Pakistan, Malaysia and Bangladesh on acquiring the products, but said that he is yet unable to say when new stock will be available.

While STO is running low on aggregate and river sand, the next second largest suppliers of the product, Sonee Hardware and Nalahiya have also said that they have stopped selling aggregate and river sand due to shortage of stock and supply, and said that they too are yet unable to assure when new stock will be available.

Aggregate was imported to Maldives until now under a special quota from the Indian government. The Indian Ministry of Commerce has informed suppliers that the quota for aggregate has been temporarily revoked from 15 February 2013.