| Yangzhou Guzheng Factories Cast a Big Price Leap 2007-07-11-04 |
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According to the Yangzhou Times of Oct 8th, the Yangzhou guzheng
factories cast a big price increase before the Oct 1st holiday. Most
guzheng prices have increased more than 50%. The high class ones
that use exotic hardwood such as zitan, heitan and nanmu have even
increased two-fold. The insiders said the price increase will soon reach
all factories in the country.
"It's all caused by the price increase on the raw materials", Xiong
Lichun, President of Jinyun Factory, said frustratedly in an interview. All
the 120 factories in Yangzhou felt the pressure. "For example, the price
of zitan was 40,000RMB a ton about this time last year, but now the
market price is more than 160,000RMB a ton. Still, it's very hard to
acquire the raw materials. We can make about 20-30 guzhengs with
one ton of zitan, depends on the thickness we use. That is, just the
frame of a zitan guzheng costs between 5000-8000RMB now. After
adding the cost of soundboards, zitan bridges and other accessories
and labor, our cost of making a zitan guzheng has reached
15,000RMB. In that case, the market price will be more than
20,000RMB." Mr. Xiong said in his 15 years of doing guzheng
business, this is the first time he's seen such big increase in the price
of raw materials. He predicted that the price increase is not coming to
an end yet.
factories cast a big price increase before the Oct 1st holiday. Most
guzheng prices have increased more than 50%. The high class ones
that use exotic hardwood such as zitan, heitan and nanmu have even
increased two-fold. The insiders said the price increase will soon reach
all factories in the country.
"It's all caused by the price increase on the raw materials", Xiong
Lichun, President of Jinyun Factory, said frustratedly in an interview. All
the 120 factories in Yangzhou felt the pressure. "For example, the price
of zitan was 40,000RMB a ton about this time last year, but now the
market price is more than 160,000RMB a ton. Still, it's very hard to
acquire the raw materials. We can make about 20-30 guzhengs with
one ton of zitan, depends on the thickness we use. That is, just the
frame of a zitan guzheng costs between 5000-8000RMB now. After
adding the cost of soundboards, zitan bridges and other accessories
and labor, our cost of making a zitan guzheng has reached
15,000RMB. In that case, the market price will be more than
20,000RMB." Mr. Xiong said in his 15 years of doing guzheng
business, this is the first time he's seen such big increase in the price
of raw materials. He predicted that the price increase is not coming to
an end yet.
Sound of China
Guzheng Music Promotion Center
Guzheng Music Promotion Center