Struggling amidst the "storm" of sand prices.

These days, the story of rising construction material prices is no longer just a topic for businesses or contractors, but has become a constant worry for many people. In particular, construction sand, a material that used to be inexpensive, is at the center of this price surge, putting many families in difficult situations.

Scarce supply is the reason for the skyrocketing price of sand. Photo taken at a sand trading facility in Tan Thinh ward (Hoa Binh city).

The burden of rising construction material prices

A few months ago, Mr. Bui Viet Dung, from Cho Hamlet, Dong Lai Commune (Tan Lac District), decided to renovate his dilapidated kitchen. The initial estimate was over 100 million VND, but when he started the project, he was shocked by the actual costs. "The price of sand has tripled, from over 100,000 VND/m³ at the beginning of this year to over 300,000 VND. Building bricks, which were only about 900 VND/piece at the beginning of the year, are now nearly 2,000 VND/piece. Adding labor and other expenses, the total amount I have to spend is over 150 million VND," Mr. Dung lamented.

Mr. Dung said that despite considering many options, even cutting back on some unnecessary items, the repairs could not be delayed any longer because the project was already unfinished. "Once it's started, we have to try our best. But it's really stressful," Mr. Dung sighed.

It's not just Mr. Dung; many households are facing a dilemma when confronted with the challenge of building houses amidst rising building material costs. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tham's family, from Group 13, Tan Thinh Ward ( Hoa Binh City), planned to start construction in the middle of this year, after nearly two years of delaying it to wait for an auspicious year. However, their joy was short-lived as worries about costs arose.

"My husband and I have saved up for many years to build a house, waiting for the right age to start construction according to feng shui principles. But now the prices of sand, bricks, and cement have increased too rapidly. The initial estimate was about 1 billion VND, but now it might reach 1.5 billion VND. I'm really worried," Ms. Tham shared. Although she has contacted many building material suppliers to compare prices, the difference is not significant, forcing her family to consider cutting back on some items such as the yard and gate, or postponing the construction date.

For families facing hardship, rising construction material prices are exacerbating their difficulties. Take the case of Mr. Bui Van Son's family in Dung hamlet, Gia Mo commune (Tan Lac district). As a family in difficult circumstances, Mr. Son received support to build a new house from the program to eliminate temporary housing. However, the skyrocketing price of building materials has made the initial budget of 200 million VND increasingly insufficient. "At first, I thought that amount would be enough because of government support and additional help from relatives. But the prices of sand, bricks, and cement keep increasing daily, so the cost of building the house has risen significantly," Mr. Son shared.

Observations show that not only the people are affected, but construction companies and building material businesses are also facing difficulties amidst the "storm" of sand prices.

Why is the price of sand skyrocketing?

Quynh Ha One-Member Limited Company, located in Tan Thinh ward (Hoa Binh City), is one of the long-standing sand businesses in Hoa Binh City. The company imports sand from mines for retail sale to customers. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, the company representative, stated: "The company has been operating for over 20 years, but the market has never been as volatile as it is now. Previously, the highest price for sand was 150,000 VND/m³, but now it has risen to 270,000 VND/m³." According to Ms. Ha, the price of imported sand has been continuously increasing; just a month ago it was over 100,000 VND/m³, and now it has nearly tripled.

"There are orders where we've received advance payments from customers, with a commitment to maintain the price; if the price of sand decreases, we'll lower it accordingly, but we're not allowed to increase it. But now the price of sand is rising too rapidly, and we're struggling to cover the losses for those orders," Ms. Ha said. Besides Ms. Ha's business, many other sand businesses are also facing shortages. As shared by Mr. Dung, the owner of a sand business in Trung Minh ward (Hoa Binh City): "The price of sand is high because the supply cannot meet the demand. Many days, the business can't import sand, and we might have to stop operations soon because we don't have any stock."

Not only are suppliers facing difficulties, but those providing material distribution services for small-scale construction projects are also under immense pressure. Mr. Bui Van Trang, owner of a construction materials business in Ren hamlet, Gia Mo commune (Tan Lac district), is also struggling as the supply of imported sand is becoming increasingly scarce. Meanwhile, his business supplies materials to many local households who are building houses.

Mr. Trang said that at the beginning of 2025, the price of construction sand at the facility was about 200,000 VND/m³. Currently, after several adjustments, the price has skyrocketed to 320,000 - 350,000 VND/m³, while yellow sand has increased by over 300% compared to the end of 2024. "With this situation, I am really worried. The high prices will cause many households planning to build houses to temporarily stop. As for those whose houses are still under construction, I continue to supply materials, but with such high prices, it is very difficult for them to pay in full," Mr. Trang shared.

The "storm" of rising sand prices shows no signs of abating, leading to numerous negative consequences for individuals, businesses, and the construction market in general. If this situation persists, not only will the dreams of many families for owning a home be affected, but the progress of public works projects is also at risk of being stalled. It is time for relevant authorities to take more decisive action to review and control supply, stabilize prices, and prevent widespread negative impacts in the future.

Viet Dao

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/12/201803/Lao-dao-tr111ng-bao-gia-cat.htm