Last year, 12 environmental impact studies were submitted in Central American countries for construction projects of buildings to be used by government institutions, files that together amount to an estimated investment of $140 million.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", from CentralAmericaData's Business Intelligence Area, provides an updated list of public and private construction projects that have submitted environmental impact studies (EIA) to the respective institutions in each country.
In Guatemala, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources rejected the environmental instrument for a real estate project known as El Socorro, to be developed in Zone 16 of the country's capital.
Since the project's development was announced, several organizations have expressed their opposition, and even the authorities of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) were summoned to Congress to discuss the details of the project.
Last year in Costa Rica, the construction industry reported an 11% decrease in the number of construction works, 6% in the area built and a 16% drop in the value of the projects processed.
An official report specifies that all provinces had a decrease in the number of works, being Puntarenas and Heredia the ones with the highest decreases, with -22.8% and -21.6%, respectively.
During 2020, it is estimated that the average price of a ton of steel increased 19%, a rise that impacts the construction industry and is explained by the increase in logistics costs and the suspension of the extraction of the material due to the outbreak of covid-19.
Central American businessmen report that during last year, which was marked by the sanitary and economic crisis, the average price per ton of steel increased by $130, going from $670 to $800.
In Costa Rica, the price indexes of buildings and social housing registered in the seventh month of the year, year-on-year variations of -1.07% and -0.81%, respectively.
From the report of the National Institute of Statistics and Census:
The construction price indexes based on February 2012 are a set of twenty statistical indicators, which measure the variation in the prices of materials used in the construction of different types of works.
In 2019, 426 environmental impact studies were submitted to develop condominiums, apartment buildings and other housing projects in Central American countries.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", of the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, includes an up-to-date list of public and private construction projects that present environmental impact studies (EIS) to the respective institutions in each country.
In Guatemala, between January and February of this year, the price of 22-gauge steel sheet fell 2%, and the price of rustic pine formwork wood increased 2%.
The Price Index of Construction Materials -IPMC-, prepared by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), measures the price variations of the eighty-nine (89) materials and services that make up the representative basket of inputs used in the construction activity, using December 2018=100 as the base month.
As of Wednesday, March 25 and for a period of 30 days, Panama decreed the suspension of the activities of the construction industry in the projects currently under development in the national territory.
According to Executive Decree 506, there are exceptions to this provision, which must be expressly provided by the health authority. See full publication in the Official Journal.
During the second month of the year in the country, the price of the sand yard grew 4% compared to the same month in 2018, and the No. 4 stroller foot fell by 12%.
From the General Comptroller of the Republic's report:
The accumulated average behavior of January - February 2020, regarding the same period in 2019, showed increases in the Price Indexes (PI) of the Sand Yard and the Stone Yard No.
In Costa Rica, the price indexes of buildings and social housing registered in the second month of the year, year-on-year variations of -0.90% and -0.89%, respectively.
From the report of the National Institute of Statistics and Census:
The construction price indexes based on February 2012 are a set of twenty statistical indicators, which measure the variation in the prices of materials used in the construction of different types of works.
The Legislative Assembly approved in second debate a bill that aims to tax in the country the sale and self-consumption of imported or locally produced cement.
The initiative, which was approved in the first debate in the Assembly in mid-February and is still pending approval by the Executive Branch, establishes that the tax will be on imported cement produced nationally, in bags or in bulk, for sale or self-consumption, of any kind, whose destination is the consumption and marketing of the product nationally.
In January 2020, investment in new construction, additions and repairs amounted to $109 million, 53% more than reported in the same period last year.
This increase occurs in an unfavorable context, since last year the construction activity in the country continued to decline for the second consecutive period, since between 2018 and 2019 the total investment fell 14%, a rate lower than that reported between 2017 and 2018, of -39%.
In Guatemala, between January 2019 and the same month of this year the price of the white porcelain sink with accessories rose 5%, and the 3/8" diameter and 20" long rod was reduced 6%.
The Price Index of Construction Materials -IPMC-, carried out by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), measures the price variations of the eighty-nine (89) materials and services that make up the representative basket of inputs used in the construction activity, using December 2018=100 as the base month.
The Assembly approved in first debate a bill that seeks to tax the sale and self-consumption of cement that is imported or locally produced.
The initiative establishes that the tax will be on cement imported and produced nationally, in bags or in bulk, for sale or self-consumption, of any kind, whose destination is the consumption and marketing of the product at the national level, reported the Legislative Assembly.
During January, domestic sand prices rose 3% compared to the same month in 2018, and the 94-pound sack of gray cement fell 2%.
In January 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, the IPs showing increases were: Sand Yard by 2.6%, Stone Yard No. 4 by 2.5%, Polarized Box Outlet Unit by 2.4% and Clay Block % by 1.2%. In contrast, the IP of the foot of Carriola No.