In Russia, coffins and crosses have risen sharply to a maximum in 10 years

In August, prices for funeral ritual products rose sharply in Russia – coffins, wooden crosses and grave fences, writes Kommersant. So, since the beginning of the month, coffins have risen in price by 30%, crosses – by 20%, and metal fences – two and a half times, the interlocutors of the publication indicated.

Manufacturers of coffins have already warned the funeral agencies about the rise in prices for products by 30-60%, said the head of the funeral homes “Zhuravli” Ilya Boltunov. According to his estimates, this is the most notable growth in 10 years. “Until now, coffin prices have been rising within inflation,” he explained. If in July the purchase price of a standard wooden coffin was at the level of 7 thousand rubles, then in August it was already more than 9 thousand. More expensive samples went up from 15 thousand rubles to 20-25 thousand.

The Moscow-based state budgetary institution “Ritual” said that several manufacturers had warned them about the rise in prices for coffins by an average of 15%. The company “Favorit” (Moscow region) confirmed the data on the increase in prices by 30% or more.

The reason for the rise in prices was a significant rise in prices for wood and metal. If at the beginning of the year the metal was purchased at 40-45 thousand rubles per ton, now it is not less than 110 thousand. The representative of the company “Favorit” explained the rise in prices by the ban on the export of unprocessed timber from Russia, which will come into force in January 2022.

Vice-President of the Union of Funeral Organizations and Crematoria of Russia Vladimir Rodkin told Kommersant that the increase in prices for coffins by manufacturers is definitely not connected with the monopolization of the market. According to him, Russians will have to choose cheaper coffins made of cardboard materials or laminated chipboard (chipboard).