Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD) issued Saturday its periodic report on the prices of building materials, including a comprehensive analysis of movement in the average prices of the main types of building materials during the month of November compared to October 2010. SCAD monitors monthly movements in the prices of 194 items of construction materials, categorized into 21 groups of commodities and services that represent the most important materials used in the construction activity, including cement, aggregate (gravel), sand, wood, steel, concrete, cement/concrete blocks, etc.
Prices are collected from over 70 sources, selected by SCAD’s Price Indices Section through field visits by a team from the section. The team also reports to the Prices Section the closure or relocation of any outlets, and the list of sources is updated accordingly.
According to the report, the prices of most of the basic building materials in the domestic market declined significantly during last November, especially cement, construction steel and wood, while the prices of a wide variety of other building materials remained relatively stable. However, a rise was noted in the prices of some other items, including, electrical cables and wires and PVC pipes. The downward trend in the building materials market can be attributed to a steady rise in the domestic supply of locally made as well as imported items, coupled with the relatively lackluster activity experienced lately by the construction market.
The report reveals a decline in the range 0.1% - 3.0% in the prices of most types of cement during November 2010 compared with the previous month of October. In this regard, the price of Etihad and Emirates sulphate resistant cements retreated by 3.0% and 1.2% respectively. The price of standard Portland cement also declined by 2.3%, while white cement edged down 0.1%. Omani Gypsum was an exception to the general decline in the prices of group, growing by 3.4%, while the price of Omani lime stabilized in November 2010 compared to October 2010.
Relative change in cement prices during November compared with October 2010
As SCAD’s report points out, the price of Construction steel, one of the most important groups of building materials, showed a decline of 1.2% to 13.2% in the prices of most steel items during November 2010 as compared to October 2010. The largest decline was in the price of steel bars 10-32 mm from Qatar, which retreated by 13.2%.
On the other hand, the prices of aggregate and sand were generally stable during the month of November compared with October 2010, reflecting a state of equilibrium between the supply level and the market demand for these materials.
As for wood prices, the report of Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi points to a decline ranging between -0.7% and -4.8% in the prices of seven wood items, while the prices of four items advanced at 0.6% to 2.7%. The prices of the remaining four wood items remained stable.
The report details movements in the prices of tiles and marble, , showing stable mosaic and marble tiles during the month of November 2010 compared with October 2010. Over the same period, the prices three varieties of ceramic tiles advanced, but those of four items retreated, while and prices of the rest of ceramic tiles items remain unchanged. The prices of Ras Al Khaimah white porcelain tiles (tile size 40 x 40 cm, unit: m2) fell 5.7%, while the prices rose" colored porcelain from Spain (tile size 20 x 25 cm, unit: m2 ) advanced by 13.4%.
SCAD reported stable prices for the whole range of sanitary ware, except for one item, namely, “Globo colour bathroom set from Italy” which rose by 1.6%.
The average prices of false ceilings were generally stable during November 2010 compared with October 2010, except for the price per m2 of “gypsum ceiling smooth (9.5 mm) / UAE" and “gypsum ceiling with imprinted /UAE”, which advanced by 8.3% and 9.1% respectively.
According to the report, the prices of three items of paints declined by 1.4% - 7.7% in November compared to October 2010, while the prices of two paint items remained stable. However, the price of one paint item (Mamorex Heavy tex/drum) increased by 6.3%.
SCAD’s report points out that the prices of other materials and other services used in the construction activity, including the price of diesel, the cost of construction labour construction equipment rents, remained generally stable during November compared with October 2010.
With regard to the prices of building materials that increased during the period under review, SCAD’s report shows a 7.2% - 9.7% rise in the average prices of UAE made electrical wires for apartments in November 2010 compared with last October. However the prices of most types of UAE made electrical wires for buildings decreased by 0.6% - 4.2%, while Omani made electrical wires for buildings advanced by 6.2% and 10.6%. A rise of 4.3% was also recorded in the price of the item: “electric wires /4 Core /120 mm” from Oman, used for electrical wiring in towers.
Likewise, the prices of all types of electrical cables advanced by 1.5% - 12.4% in November 2010 compared to October 2010. A similar trend was also reported in regard to the prices of PVC pipes, which increased by 1.6% - 1.8% during the same period.
To sum up the results of SCAD’s monthly report on building materials prices, a look at the movements in the average prices of the building materials groups shows that 10 groups remained stable during the month of November compared to October 2010. This trend, along with generally unchanged prices for 6 items, brought about a relative stability in domestic market during the reference period. By contrast, there was a rise in the average prices of 5 groups out of the 21 main groups of commodities and service represent basic materials used in construction activity.
The following table depicts changes in the average prices of building materials groups. It can be seen that the groups whose prices declined or remained stable are the most important groups of building materials, primarily cement, aggregate and sand, concrete, steel, wood and cement blocks, while the groups that saw a rise in price are of less importance than the aforesaid groups.
2010 Trends in building materials prices during the month of November compared with October 2010
| Sr. | Group | Trend | Change % |
| 1 | Cement | Down | 0.05%- |
| 2 | Aggregate and sand | Stable | 00 |
| 3 | Concrete | Stable | 00 |
| 4 | Steel | Down | 0.75%- |
| 5 | Wood | Down | 0.63%- |
| 6 | Cement blocks | Stable | 00 |
| 7 | Roofing materials | Down | 1.96%+ |
| 8 | Waterproofing materials | Down | 0.56%- |
| 9 | Natural Stone | Stable | 00 |
| 10 | Tiles & marble | Stable | 5.97%- |
| 11 | Sanitary ware | Stable | 00 |
| 12 | False Ceilings | Stable | 3.40%+ |
| 13 | Paints | Down | 0.66%- |
| 14 | Glass | Stable | 00 |
| 15 | PVC pipes | Stable | 00 |
| 16 | Electrical Wire | Up | 6.0%+ |
| 17 | Diesel | Stable | 00 |
| 18 | Electrical cables | Up | 6.8%+ |
| 19 | UPVC Pipes | Up | 1.65%+ |
| 20 | Transport Equipment | Stable | 00 |
| 21 | Construction labour | Stable | 00 |
About Statistical Center-Abu Dhabi (SCAD)
Statistics center-Abu Dhabi (SCAD) was established in 2008 in accordance with Law No. (7), to develop and organize statistical work in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in particular and the United Arab Emirates in general. SCAD’s purpose is to produce statistical information that is consistent with the emirate’s orientation towards sustainable development and strategic plans under the supervision and with full support of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Being the of the official statistical data collection agency in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the center assumes the functions of preparing the statistical plans and programs that serve the emirate’s wider development programs, conducting statistical surveys across the emirate. SCAD is also responsible for the collection, classification, storage, analysis and dissemination of official statistics and the release of the results of social, demographic, economic, environmental and cultural surveys.
The activities of the Center will encompass all areas relating to social conditions in accordance with relevant international standards and ethics, such as independence, professionalism, impartiality, objectivity, confidentiality, cost effectiveness and quality of statistics.
