Many small and midsize companies cannot afford to buy the raw materials they need because of price increases, according to a government survey released Friday.
Of 596 small businesses surveyed March 22 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, 64.8 percent said they had experienced difficulty in paying for scrap iron, while 56.1 percent cited problems in obtaining steel, amid higher materials prices.
About 70 percent of the companies in the metal production and pouring sectors said their business conditions have deteriorated because of the increased prices of raw materials, the survey showed.