Rising construction material prices Nepal: Nepal experienced a significant rise in construction material prices between February and June, creating cost pressure across infrastructure and building projects. Bitumen prices recorded one of the largest increases, rising by approximately 107%, while steel reinforcement bars increased by around 26%, cement by nearly 16%, and diesel prices also moved upward during the period. The increase affected road construction, housing develop

CASAVIA Signs Supply Agreement With NHC Platform Saudi Arabia: Saudi Industrial Development Co. subsidiary SIDC Ceramic Factory (CASAVIA) has signed an agreement with National Housing Company (NHC) to support the supply of sanitary ware products through the “SupplyPro” platform. The platform is designed to automate supply chain operations within the construction sector and connect manufacturers with real estate developers, contractors and end-users to improve supply efficienc

Housing Construction Vietnam: Nishi-Nippon Railroad, also known as Nishitetsu, plans to develop around 22,000 housing units in Vietnam between 2026 and 2035 through a partnership with local developer Nam Long Group. The Japanese company has acquired a 49% stake in Nam Long ADC, a subsidiary focused on affordable and middle-income housing projects, while Nam Long will retain the remaining 51% stake. The partnership will expand existing residential developments around Ho Chi Mi

Britain’s Construction Sector Records Sharpest Decline in Nearly Six Years UK: Britain’s construction sector recorded its steepest contraction in nearly six years during the three months to March, with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) reporting the industry’s net workloads balance falling to -12% from -6% in the previous quarter, marking the weakest reading since Q2 2020 when it dropped to -36% during COVID-19 lockdowns. According to the survey of 938 firms

EIB Group Strengthens Germany’s Affordable Housing Sector with USD 348 Million Financing Agreements Germany: The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group convened government authorities, housing developers, promotional banks, and construction industry representatives in Berlin to address challenges in Germany’s housing sector and accelerate affordable housing construction. During the event, the EIB formalised two financing agreements worth a combined USD 348 million, including up

Iraq Prepares Plans for 21 New Residential Cities Iraq: Iraq has prepared designs for 21 new residential cities as part of ongoing efforts to address housing shortages, according to an official statement. The Ministry of Construction and Housing is working towards developing fully serviced residential cities in cooperation with real estate developers across multiple governorates. Ministry spokesperson Nabil al-Saffar stated, “Basic designs have been prepared for 21 cities…the

Commercial Buildings Face Slowing Energy Efficiency UK: The pace of energy efficiency improvements in the UK’s commercial property sector slowed in 2025, according to new research, raising concerns over compliance with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES). While higher-rated buildings (EPC A, A+ and B) had grown rapidly in previous years, their growth rate dropped to 20% in 2025, with registrations falling 22% from the 2023 peak. Despite long-term progress—where top-rat

USD 1 Billion Investment India: French building materials major Saint-Gobain plans to invest nearly INR 8,300 crore (USD 1 billion) in India over the next five years, signalling a strategic pivot toward emerging markets. The company sees India as a key growth engine driven by strong population growth, rapid urbanisation, and a rising middle class. CEO Benoit Bazin highlighted that India could become one of the company’s largest profit contributors, potentially surpassing Fran

USA Housing Starts Rebound in March 2026 as Residential Construction Shows Broad-Based Growth Despite Cost Pressures USA: Residential construction activity in the United States recorded a strong recovery in March 2026, with total housing starts rising 10.8% month-on-month to 1.50 million units, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Growth was supported by both single-family homes, up 9.7%, and multifamily developments, which increased 13.3%. Compared with March 2025, starts we

U.S. Housing Market Adapts to Higher Rates as Affordability Pressures Persist USA: The housing market has not experienced the expected post-rate-hike reset, according to a report. Higher mortgage rates have cooled demand and increased supply, but they have not delivered significant price relief, leaving affordability under strain. Analysts suggest the market has instead adjusted to a new normal of higher borrowing costs, limited supply balance and persistently elevated prices

Portugal Housing Market Slows While Prices Remain Elevated PORTUGAL: Portugal’s real estate market is witnessing slower activity, with transaction volumes moderating amid weaker demand and rising uncertainty. However, Portugal housing prices continue to increase as supply shortages remain a key market constraint. Limited housing availability is preventing the slowdown from easing pricing pressures, particularly across important market segments. Although construction activity

Europe’s Construction Sector Faces Pressure Amid Middle East Crisis EU: The European construction industry is facing increased pressure due to the ongoing Middle East crisis, which has led to higher energy, fuel and transport costs, along with price volatility for key materials. According to a statement from the European construction federation, these conditions are affecting project pricing, supply chains and investment planning, particularly for petroleum-related inputs suc

Labour Shortage Slows Australia’s Housing Targets Australia: Australia’s housing targets are facing pressure due to a shortage of skilled workers, as the country struggles to meet its construction goals. Around 18 months into the federal government’s five-year housing accord, the country is behind target by approximately 77,000 homes. The sector continues to rely on a workforce of around two million tradespeople, but additional labour is required to support planned housing de

Over 51,000 Hectares in Land Preparation Iran: National Land and Housing Organization Managing Director Ali Nabian announced that contractor claims in the land preparation sector have been paid from the organization’s resources, highlighting continued progress in land development efforts. Speaking via a report from the Ministry of Transport and Urban Development, he emphasized that under the 14th government, land preparation alongside land supply has been actively pursued, wi

Amaal Awards $490 Million Contract for Mansory Branded Luxury Tower in Dubai UAE: Amaal has awarded a $490 million contract to Citic Middle East Contracting for the construction of Mansory Residences in Dubai, a luxury branded residential tower scheduled for completion in Q4 2028. The project is backed by Citic Construction and represents the world’s first residential development under the Mansory brand. The contractor will manage full construction works, including structural

India Construction Costs Surge Sharply, With Retail and Luxury Housing Bearing the Highest Pressure INDIA: In India, construction costs have risen significantly, with retail, luxury housing and premium real estate segments facing the steepest increases. According to industry analysis, mall construction costs have surged by around 13.9% over the past two years, while luxury housing costs have increased by about 12.8%, driven by higher design complexity, rising material prices

Iran Conflict Pushes Up Construction Costs and Disrupts Housing and Agriculture in Australia AUSTRALIA: The ongoing Iran war is driving significant economic pressure across Australia, particularly in construction and agriculture. Rising global fuel and material costs are increasing home building expenses, worsening the country’s housing shortage and threatening delivery of new housing targets. Builders and economists warn that affordability challenges may intensify if cost in

London Housing Crisis Worsens as 42,000 Planned Homes Are Abandoned UNITED KINGDOM: London’s housing shortage has deepened after developers scrapped or repurposed plans for at least 42,000 homes over the past three years, according to industry analysis. Of these, around 30,000 had already received planning permission, while 12,000 were part of local development plans. Many of these sites are now being converted into warehouses, data centres, self-storage facilities and hotels

Construction Investment Declines in February CANADA: Building construction investment fell by $503.2 million (2.1%) in February compared with January. The overall decline was driven by reduced residential spending, which dropped by $552.3 million to $16.0 billion. However, single-family construction provided some support, increasing by $77.7 million (1.1%) to $7.4 billion, partially offsetting a sharper contraction in multi-family housing investment. Source: Hardlines

Housing Starts Ease in March 2026 Despite Stronger Year-to-Date Growth Trend CANADA: Housing starts in Canada declined by 6% in March 2026 to an annualised rate of 235,852 units, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. However, urban starts rose 10% year-on-year, while year-to-date activity increased 9% compared with 2025, indicating underlying resilience despite monthly volatility in construction activity. Source: Hardlines