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.
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 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.
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.
In Costa Rica, the building and social housing price indexes recorded year-on-year changes of -0.87% and -0.48%, respectively, in January of this year.
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 Costa Rica, the price indexes of buildings and social interest housing registered in December of last year, year-on-year variations of -1.03% and -0.53%, respectively.
From the National Institute of Statistics and Census statement:
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 Costa Rica, the price indexes of buildings and social interest housing registered in the tenth month of the year -0.58% and -0.63%, respectively.
From the National Institute of Statistics and Census statement:
The price indexes of construction base 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 the eighth month of the year, the price indexes for buildings and social housing recorded year-on-year variations of 0.56% and -0.45%, respectively.
From the National Institute of Statistics and Census statement:
The price indexes for construction base 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 Costa Rica, the price indexes for buildings and social housing registered year-on-year variations of -0.5% and -0.05%, respectively, in the fifth month of the year.
From the National Institute of Statistics and Census statement:
The price indexes for February 2012 construction base 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 Costa Rica, the price indexes for buildings and social housing registered -0.45% and 0.28% year-on-year variations in the fourth month of the year, respectively.
From the National Institute of Statistics and Census press release:
The price indexes for construction in 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.
It is estimated that construction costs in Costa Rica could increase up to 9% once the new fiscal plan comes into effect.
From next July 1, the collection of value added tax (VAT) will be staggered, because in the first year new buildings will not pay taxes, in the second pay 4%, in the third 8% and in the fourth 13%.