Build now while you have a chance, the Construction Industry Council has warned, amid growing concerns over the impact of shortage of imported construction material.

The council is concerned about the sector’s prospects amid fears that the shortage of supplies could halt the industry in the next 12 months.

“We haven’t been hit yet, but we’re at the sharp end,” Construction Industry Council president, Gordon Jenkins told SunBiz.

“We’re going to really cop it; not now, but in future.”

“If you’re going to build, build now while there is a product available; if you wait six months, the price will keep going up.”

“Already, the cost of building a house is up 50 per cent of its previous cost; and it’s going to get worse. Supply chain challenges and crippling freight costs are part of the undertow that threatens the industry,” Mr Jenkins said.

“We have a problem; a huge problem,” he said.

“It hasn’t hit us yet, but it’s going to, real bad when it does in about a year. Already there are late deliveries; and it’s going to get worse.”

“Some building materials are simply not locally available as they used to be.”

Stocking Up

Mr Jenkins suggested an alternative such as stocking up on much needed material now.

“It may double by the time you want it,” he said.

“As importers, the construction sector brings in 80 per cent of building material,” Mr Jenkins said.

“It’s a worry, even though people haven’t suffered from it yet. Fiji has a problem; they react too late when they should be reacting in advance.”

“You’d be lucky to buy what you want now; you probably can buy a door lock, but it might not be what you want, because they will tell you it might take six months to get what you want.”

Citing Australia and New Zealand as examples, Mr Jenkins said there was a three month setback via shipping delay, on the arrival of imported goods such as plaster-boards. Fiji looks to New Zealand for plaster-boards.

“It was only a matter of time – amid a host of other shortages – that the industry may have to reckon with the looming threat that could halt the local construction industry,” Mr Jenkins said.

“We’ve been using up stock that is here,” he said.

“But when that finishes, the problem starts.”

Feedback: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj