Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD) issued its monthly report on the prices of building materials for the month of June 2011. The report presents an analysis of the movements in the prices of the various materials used in the construction industry in Abu Dhabi market during June and the second quarter 2011. The dissemination of the report, which presents a wide range of price data, is intended to serve the needs of data users in the public and private sectors in research, planning and decision making in ways that support the construction sector, besides related and dependent sectors.
Prices of building materials in June 2011 compared with May 2011
According to SCAD’s report, the prices of several building materials groups have undergone changes during June 2011 compared with May 2011, with the largest drop recorded in the average prices of the “Glass” group, which plummeted 23.2%, followed by falls in the prices of “Bathroom Set without Accessories” and “Stainless Steel Sink with Mixer-Single”, which declined by 10% each.
On the other hand, the average price of the “Aggregates & Sand” group climbed 26% in June 2011, as all items within this group registered price increases in the range of 11 – 50%. In addition, the prices of “Steel” advanced 4%, mainly as a result of a 9% increase in the price of “Steel / Bars, 6 – 8 mm / Ton / Turkey” and an 8% increase in the price of “B.R.C. Mesh / 8m.m (252) / Piece /U.A.E.”. The next largest rise was in the prices of the “Paints” group, which rose by 3.6% on average, mainly as a result of a 14% increase in the price of “Durosan matt emulsion /Gallon /U.A.E”.
Prices of building materials in June 2011 compared with June 2010
As SCAD’s report reveals, the prices for “Power cable” increased by 44.1% in June 2010 compared with June 2011, reflecting a rise of 67% in the price of “CU 132kv/ 1*800 mm2/Km”, while the remaining items within this group increased by 33%. The second largest was in the average rents of “transport equipment”, which advanced 37% as a result of an increase in the rent of “Trucks of capacity 20 m3” by 52%. In addition, the prices of “Aggregates & Sand” rose by 29.8% and “Wires for apartments” by 26%.
SCAD’s analysis of building materials prices in June 2011 compared with June 2010 points to a steep fall in the average price of the “Glass” group, which retreated by 33% as a result of a decrease in the price of “Tinted Glass / 6m.m / m2 / S.Arabia” by 43% and “Mirror Glass / 4 mm / m2 / S.Arabia” by 39%.
Prices of building materials for Q2 2011 compared with Q1 2011
The reports also analyzes the average prices of building materials during Q2 2011 compared with Q1 2011, revealing increases that ranged from 0.5% for “(PVC) Pipes” and 18.2 percent for the “Paints” group.
The average prices for “Diesel” and “Natural stone” remained generally stable during the second quarter, compared with the first quarter of 2011.
By contrast, the prices of a number of other groups declined in Q2 compared with Q1 2011, led by the drop in the average price of “Glass”, which decreased by 7%, reflecting a drop of 14 percent in the price of “Mirror Glass / 4 mm / m2 / S.Arabia”. The next largest falls were recorded in the prices of “Power cable” (down 3 percent), “Concrete” (down 2.8%) and “Cement” (down 2.1%).
Prices of building materials for Q2 2011 compared with Q2 2010
SCAD also reported rises in the average prices of fifteen out of 21 building materials groups during Q2 2011 compared with Q2 2010. The sharpest rise was recorded in the rents of transport equipment, which shot up 39.1% as a result of rises in rents for excavators of capacity 330-290 m3 and loaders 966. Another drastic rise was recorded in the price of “Power cable”, which advanced 38.5% as a result of increases of 28 – 60.6% in the prices of this group. “Wires for residential towers” increased by 32.6% during the period in question.
The comparison also reveals that average price retreated by 1 – 12.9% for a number of groups during Q2 2011 compared with Q2 2010, with the largest fall recorded in prices of the “Glass” group, which declined by 12.9%, as a result of falls in the prices of “Mirror Glass / 4 mm / m2 / S.Arabia” and “Tinted Glass / 6m.m / m2 / S.Arabia” by 24 and 18%, respectively. “Cement blocks” and “Concrete” recorded the next largest falls during this period, retreating by 8.5%, and 7.3%, respectively.
SCAD’s report monitors the prices of 21 groups of building materials
SCAD’s monthly report of building materials prices report surveys the prices of 21 groups of commodities and services that represent the most important materials used in the construction activity, including cement, aggregate, sand, wood, steel, concrete, cement blocks, etc.
SCAD has published this report since 2008. The report data are collected by the centre’s field staff on a monthly basis, in line with the directives of the emirate’s leadership for the development of economic sectors and support of their stability in all areas of interest to decision makers, policy planners, researchers, etc.
