UBON RATCHATHANI,
Apr 11 (TNA) – 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)--E006
Travel Centre
