Frequent long hours power breakdown and load shedding in residential areas at night have substantially increased demand of candles in local markets, shopkeepers told Business Recorder. They said that candle prices have also gone up owing to the widening demand and supply position.
Shopkeepers said that demand of candles have registered sudden increase in last few days, as a candle of same weight and length, which was sold at rupee one per candle now costs rupees two. Regarding demand of candles, they said that on an average they sale three to four packets containing six candles per packet per day but now the demand has reached more than 12 packets per day.
Candles are generally produced at cottage industries, which have limited capacity of producing candles. Candle manufacturers are not interested to increase production predicting that the increase in demand is temporary. They also fear that their capital may stuck up for long period if power supply position improved and demand declined.