Why are cable prices going up? What contractors in Guwahati, Silchar and Shillong should know

Cable prices are going up because the metals inside them — copper and aluminium — and the PVC around them have all become costlier over the past year, and brands are passing that on. Havells has said it expects further product-wise price hikes of around 5–7% this quarter, after cables and wires already rose more than 30% in the last 12 months. If you are a contractor, builder or project buyer, the practical answer is simple: get an itemised quote with a clear validity date, confirm quantities early, and order big cable lots in planned stages instead of at the last minute.

This guide is written for contractors and site buyers in Guwahati, Silchar, Shillong and across the Northeast, but the same logic applies anywhere we work — Bengal, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam and the Northeast, Nepal and Bhutan.

Why are wire and cable prices going up in 2026?

The conductor is copper or aluminium, and the insulation and sheath are PVC or XLPE. When these raw materials move, the price list moves.

• Copper: In late October 2026, copper was up about 27% compared to a year earlier, according to Trading Economics. It had eased slightly over the month, but stayed far above the previous year’s level.
• Copper, aluminium and PVC together: A Crisil Ratings report covered by The Tribune in June said copper and aluminium prices rose 22–27% and PVC about 12% last fiscal, with tighter global supply during the West Asia conflict. Crisil expected cable makers to raise selling prices by 18–20% this fiscal.
• Brand price lists: On its October earnings call, Havells management said price increases over the past year ranged from 10–25% across categories, with cables and wires above 30%, and that around 5–7% more is planned for Q3 (October–December), product by product. This was reported by Business Standard and in the call highlights on GuruFocus.

Other brands set their own price lists and timing, so not every brand changes on the same day.

What decides the price of a cable?

People search “cable price per metre” a lot. There is no single rate, because these factors change it:

What changes the price	Why it matters
Conductor metal (copper or aluminium)	Copper costs much more per kg; aluminium is lighter and cheaper but needs a bigger size for the same current
Size (sq mm) and number of cores	More sq mm and more cores means more metal
Armoured or unarmoured	Steel wire or strip armour adds material and weight
Insulation type (PVC, XLPE, FRLS, HRFR, ZHFR)	Better fire and heat performance usually costs more
Brand	Each brand publishes its own price list and discount structure
Quantity and length	Full drums and cut lengths are priced differently
Date of the quote	Price lists change when metal prices move

So when someone asks “what is the price of 4 core 25 sq mm armoured cable?”, the honest answer is: it depends on copper or aluminium, brand and quantity — and on which week you ask. We do not publish rates on this website. WhatsApp us for today’s rate.

Copper or aluminium cable — which makes sense now?

The choice depends on the job, not just the price.

Use	Usual choice	Why
House wiring inside conduit	Copper	Small sizes, frequent joints, flexible — copper is standard
Main feeder from meter or transformer to building	Aluminium armoured (often)	Large sizes, long runs, lower cost per run
Factory or tea garden main LT feeders	Aluminium or copper as per design	Aluminium saves cost on big sizes; copper where space is tight or terminations are many
Motor and control wiring	Copper	Smaller sizes, many terminations, vibration
Street lighting and outdoor runs	Aluminium armoured (often)	Long distances, cost

Aluminium needs a larger cross-section than copper to carry the same current, and it needs proper aluminium or bi-metal lugs. The cable size must always be worked out by your electrical engineer or a licensed electrician based on load, length and voltage drop. Do not downsize a cable just to save money — undersized cable heats up and is a fire risk.

For more on armour, see our guide on armoured vs unarmoured cable.

How should contractors quote when cable prices keep changing?

A quote made in August, approved in October and bought against in December can lose money. Some simple habits help:

1. Put a validity date on every quote. Write “rates valid for X days” on your quote to the client, and ask your supplier for the same.
2. Show cable as a separate line. Keep cables and wires as clear line items in your BOQ, so a change in metal price is easy to explain.
3. Agree a price-change term for long jobs. For projects that run many months, agree with your client in writing how a change in cable rates will be handled.
4. Lock quantities early. Once the drawing is final, take out the cable schedule and order the main runs. Buying in a hurry at the end usually costs more.
5. Order in planned stages. On big sites, split the order — main feeders first, internal wiring later — instead of waiting to buy everything together.

What should I write in a BOQ for cables?

A clear specification gets you comparable quotes and the right material on site. Mention:

BOQ item	Example of what to write
Conductor	Copper or aluminium
Size and cores	e.g. 4 core 25 sq mm, 3.5 core 95 sq mm
Insulation	PVC or XLPE; FRLS / HRFR / ZHFR for wires where fire safety matters
Armour	Armoured (strip or wire) or unarmoured
Voltage grade	e.g. 1.1 kV
Standard	IS 694 for PVC-insulated cables, IS 7098 (Part 1) for XLPE cables up to 1.1 kV
Brand	Preferred brand or list of approved makes
Length	Total metres, plus drum length or cut lengths needed
Accessories	Glands, lugs and termination kits for each size

For house wire sizes, our house wire size guide covers 1.0 to 6 sq mm for lights, sockets, ACs and geysers.

Buying cable for a site in Guwahati, Silchar or Shillong

Sites in the Northeast have a few things to plan for:

• Heavy monsoon and damp: Underground and outdoor runs see a lot of water. Use the right armoured cable, seal glands properly and keep drum ends capped till use.
• Hill sites (Shillong, Aizawl, Kohima and similar): Big drums are hard to move on narrow hill roads. Ask for cut lengths that match each run, so material can be carried in smaller lots.
• Long rural lines: Long runs mean voltage drop. Your engineer may need a bigger size than the current rating alone suggests.
• Genuine material: With prices high, there is more temptation to buy cheap, unbranded cable. Check the brand, size and standard printed on the sheath, and buy from an authorised dealer.

Shree Shyam Suppliers is an authorised dealer for Havells, Lauritz Knudsen (L&T) and Mescab, and we also deal in Polycab, KEI and RR Kabel. For sites in Assam and the Northeast, WhatsApp us your site location and we’ll tell you how we can supply.

Why buy from a local authorised dealer when prices are rising?

When rates change often, a dealer who gives you a clear, itemised quote saves time. Shree Shyam Suppliers can cut cable to length, so you pay for what the job needs. You get genuine branded stock, advice on the right size and type from people who handle cable every day, and one place for cables, glands, lugs, MCBs and DBs. See our full range of cables and wires.

Always get the installation done by a licensed electrician, with proper earthing and protection.

Ordering tip

Send us your cable list on WhatsApp for an itemised quote with today’s rates. Include:

• Cable type (copper or aluminium, armoured or unarmoured, PVC or XLPE)
• Size and cores for each run (e.g. 4 core 16 sq mm)
• Length of each run, and whether you want full drums or cut lengths
• Preferred brand, or “any approved make”
• Site location (town and district)

If you also need glands, lugs or termination kits, add them to the same list — we will quote everything together.