KUNA : Covid-19 triggers surge in construction costs in Kuwait – Economics – 20/02/2022 – Kuwait News Agency

KUNA : Covid-19 triggers surge in construction costs in Kuwait – Economics – 20/02/2022 – Kuwait News Agency

Report by Abdullah Al-Khateeb

KUWAIT, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- The global coronavirus pandemic proved to be a detriment to not only the health sector but also impacted other sectors as countries scrambled to curb spread and communities altered ways of life to limit ramifications. The constructions sector in Kuwait is one that did not escape such impacts.



Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), experts commented on the surge in construction material prices, citing shortage of manpower, transportation expenses and decrease in production as factories lowered operational capacity.



Sales and marketing manager of National Industries Company, Basel Al-Turkait, stated that locally, price rise could be attributed to the increase in disbursing residential lands, adding that construction materials price rise is estimated at 30 percent.



He commented that the company has a limited role in instating material prices, saying that plastic witnessed a 50 percent rise because of increasing demand and lack of products in the market, as some sourcing factories were shut down.



On his part, General Manager of Al-Buraq contractions company, Talal Al-Shaibani stated that expenses hiked as a result of skilled workers' inability to travel during the pandemic,