Construction materials remain on the rise

Santo Domingo, DR.
Gray cement and other materials used in construction registered new increases this last week.

A 42 kilogram (kg) gray cement sleeve is worth between 5%, 10%, 12%, and up to 15% more than the previous one, depending on the distribution place. At the border, it costs about RD $ 500.

When consulted in this regard, the president of the Dominican Association of Hardware Stores (Asodefe), Arturo Espinal, assured that not only cement increased in price, since it is an input to manufacture block and that electrical and steel materials also register increases.

However, the Dominican Steel Association (Adoacero) says that the rods have not increased in price recently since six months ago, and that price is maintained.

He confirmed the increase in the price of cement, but to a lesser extent, and explained that it is sold cheaper than in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and the United States. In the DR, he added, a cement sleeve costs less than US $ 10.

He argued that steel also rose, especially rebars, but that increase was two weeks ago and with less impact, of 3%.

Espinal affirmed that there had been an increase in these two essential items, and the most worrying thing is that these increases will be reflected in many more products “by default,” mainly in the four-inch, six-inch, and eight-inch blocks.

The residential construction sector corroborated that the price of gray cement rose.

The production of gray cement uses petroleum coke, which has had an impact and the higher cost of freight. However, according to builders, another product that has also increased in value is wood.

The Index of Direct Costs of Housing Construction (ICDV) shows sustained increases in inputs such as wood with 7.99% in June of this year; steel 10.90%, electrical miscellaneous 11.26%, electrical wires 13.34%, stones, and marble 19.81%, blacksmiths 25.50%, and tools 48.33%.

In October of this same year, the National Statistics Office (ONE) indicates that the ICDV rose 2.79 points that month, compared to the previous month, going from 196.82 to 199.62 points. According to the ONE report, almost all inputs rose.

According to a note on the ONE’s website, the director of Economic Statistics of the ONE, Augusto de los Santos, indicated that the principal increases were produced by the materials group, with 2.09%, and by the wood subgroup with 8.20%.

Likewise, he indicates that the person in charge of the Department of Conjunctural Statistics, Maritza Pérez, explained that during October 2021 the cost of tools went down (-2.72%) and subcontracts (-0.28%), while the main increase was in materials (2.09%).
The principal increases were in wood (8.20%), followed by PVC pipes and parts (6.72%) and paint (6.21%).

Major increases
According to a note on the web portal of the ONE, the principal increases were in the group of materials, with 2.09%, as for the subgroup of wood with 8.20%.

Statistics
During October 2021, the principal increases were presented in wood (8.20%), followed by PVC pipes and parts (6.72%) and paint (6.21%).

The cost of tools decreased (-2.72%) and subcontracts (-0.28%).