Egypt’s Boat Builders Complain of High Costs of Raw Materials
(AWP) - Egyptian boat builders in the province of Kafr al-Sheikh in northern Egypt, complained of the high prices of raw materials necessary for their industry, which are impacting their productivity.
Mohamed Gamal al-Qolfat, an owner of a boat manufacturing workshop in the city of al-Burullus, Kafr al-Sheikh, considers the high costs of raw materials to be the main problem facing owners and workers of this industry.
Qolfat said, “The problems we face here of course are the high prices of raw materials, which we import from abroad, particularly the type of wood used in building boats. The value of the dollar is rising and the price of green wood is also increasing. Raw materials for our boat-building industry all come from outside Egypt.”
He noted, “The raw materials used to be available and cheap. We were working well then. Now, everything has become expensive and those who had wanted to buy wooden boats now ask for iron ones. In the past, iron was more expensive and wood was cheaper but now the prices of raw materials are equal to the prices of iron.”
Mohamed Sweilam, a blacksmith in the workshop, also said the present condition of the industry in Egypt differs from the past because of the high price of raw materials.
He complained, “Now things are so difficult due to the price hike. The prices of supplies, raw materials, electrodes and electricity have all changed. Previously, everything was easy and available. Nevertheless, we are still working with what is available.”