THE price of brick has risen by up to 18 percent in the last week, according to Cambodia’s large brick producers, who say that construction is on the rise with the beginning of the dry season.

Lots of 10,000 bricks were trading for between US$300 to $320, according to an official from Handicraft Produce Bricks Crocodile, up from $270 last week.

But the material is still way off highs seen during the construction boom of 2007 to 2008, when a batch fetched up to $1,300.

“Some of Korean residential developments in Phnom Penh’s Boeung Keng Kang ordered my products early this week. I am hopeful that the price will continue to rise until the rainy season,” she said.

Lay Seng Hoeun, director of Star Diamond Brick Factory, said yesterday that the upcoming dry season was pushing construction projects, a trend he hoped would continue.

The Kandal province manufacturer sold its 10,000-brick lots for between $230 and $350, up from between $190 and $220 on average last month, he said.

“It is a good sign for us and we are increasing product supplies to the construction market,” he said.

“Some of brick handicrafts were closed, now they starting to produce again.”

Other construction materials are also seeing price increases in the year to date.

Chip Mong Import, Export, and Construction Company sales project executive Seng Leakhna said yesterday that steel prices had increased by $5 this month to around $660 and $670 a tonne. Lao Tip Seiha, the director of construction at the Land Ministry, said the signs were positive for the construction sector.