AZE.US
Warmer weather has brought more construction and repair activity across Azerbaijan, but it has also exposed another problem for households and builders: construction materials are becoming more expensive.
Sellers say prices have increased most noticeably for timber, paint and hardware products in recent months. In some categories, prices are now up by as much as 25% compared with last year.
Cement is currently selling for about 8.5 to 9 manats (about $5 to $5.30) per bag, according to market sellers. In some products, the price difference compared with earlier levels is around 1.5 manats per unit.
Timber prices have risen by about 20% to 25% per cubic meter, market participants said. In the hardware and paint segment, some products have become more expensive by around 13% to 14%.
Prices for certain flooring and facing materials vary depending on quality, thickness and size. Sellers said some items are being offered at around 14.5 to 15.5 manats per square meter.
The situation is not the same everywhere. Sellers in Kurdamir said prices for timber, bricks and metal materials have not changed significantly over the past two to three months, but purchasing activity has weakened.
According to local sellers, one cubic meter of timber costs about 350 manats (about $206), while cement remains at around 8.5 to 9 manats per bag. Blocks are selling for about 48 gapiks (about $0.28), and bricks for 48 to 52 gapiks (about $0.28 to $0.31). Metal profiles cost around 3 to 3.5 manats, pipes about 3 to 3.2 manats, and 10 mm rebar about 8.5 manats per meter.
Even where prices have remained stable, sellers say trade has slowed. One seller said he previously sold 5 to 6 cubic meters of timber a week, but now sometimes cannot sell even one cubic meter in a day.
Specialists link the price pressure to higher costs in foreign markets and expensive transportation. Import difficulties are also being affected by regional and international tensions, including uncertainty around Iran and the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
For buyers, the increase means repair and construction work is becoming more expensive just as seasonal demand rises. For sellers, the market has become more complicated: prices are higher, but fewer customers are ready to buy.