• 
• 

Published on February 4, 2008

Charcoal dealer Chuanchom Sunthornsirimankhong said her products now sell very well among vendors in major markets.

Vendors found they could not pass on the higher price of cooking gas to customers.

They turned to coal when business dropped off after they raised food prices.

But she said even the price of charcoal will rise once demand started to climb.

Selling an average of 10 packs a day in the past, she now sells 20 to 30 packs.

Chuanchom said she did not illegally chop down trees for charcoal but produced it from dried branches and abandoned wood.

Wilai Kheunphet, a food vendor in a market at Muang district, said more vendors were turning to charcoal.

She noted customers bought less when food prices were raised as a result of the higher cost of cooking gas late last year. 

The Nation