After the sea storm comes the "price storm" of construction materials

Since mid-2025, the construction materials market, especially sand, stone, bricks, and tiles, has increased sharply in price, causing many people to increase their costs when building houses. Notably, storm No. 13 in early November caused severe damage to infrastructure, houses, and construction works in some central provinces, so the demand for repairs and construction is very large, making construction materials even more scarce, and prices are constantly "dancing".

"Double" damage

Storm No. 13 caused severe damage to coastal cities in Gia Lai province, with total damage estimated at nearly 6,000 billion VND. After the storm, a series of houses were damaged and collapsed, making life even more difficult. However, the situation of some construction material businesses arbitrarily increasing prices and "overcharging" people has caused people to suffer "double" damage. Traveling to coastal villages, everywhere you hear people complaining and lamenting about the simultaneous increase in prices of construction materials, generators, etc.

People living on the banks of Thi Nai lagoon (Tuy Phuoc Dong commune, Gia Lai province) buy corrugated iron sheets to reroof their houses.

After more than 10 days since storm No. 13 swept through, from Quy Nhon urban area to residential areas along Thi Nai lagoon, up the Kon river, the scene of desolation still covers, trees are destroyed, withered. At Thuan Thai residential group, An Nhon Dong ward, Mr. Nguyen Van Bay reflected: The price of some construction materials has increased indiscriminately, some items increased 3-4 times, making people more miserable. Normal roof tiles are 8,000 VND/piece, after the storm they increased to 20,000-30,000 VND/piece, roof tiles increased from 25,000 to 80,000 VND/piece. The price is too high, but if you don't buy them, how will you repair your house to live in?

Similarly, in residential areas along Thi Nai lagoon in Tuy Phuoc commune, people said that the price of construction materials increased sharply, making home repairs even more difficult. Mr. Le Van Y. (a construction worker in Tuy Phuoc commune) said: After the storm, bricks increased from 18,000 to 25,000 VND/piece; corrugated iron increased by 10,000 - 15,000 VND/m2; 6/12 diameter iron from 300,000 to 380,000 VND/tree. People were already suffering, now they are even more miserable but they cannot buy anything to re-roof.

Requires selling at the right price

Speaking with SGGP reporters, a representative of the MC Construction Materials business (Tuy Phuoc Dong commune) admitted that some items such as bricks, tiles, sand, and gravel are scarce due to a sudden increase in demand. “People's reflection is correct, because the demand for some items such as sand, gravel, bricks, and tiles is high while supply cannot meet demand. As for iron, steel, and cement, my business is committed to selling at the right price, not pushing up prices to make people suffer more after the storm,” said a representative of the MC business.

Discussing the people's complaints with the leaders of Tuy Phuoc Dong Commune People's Committee and the Department of Industry and Trade of Gia Lai province, we learned that the locality and functional agencies are strengthening inspection and price monitoring, requiring establishments to commit to selling at the right price. "We coordinate with the market management force to continuously inspect and require businesses to commit not to increase prices. If there are specific complaints, we will immediately inspect and handle them strictly," informed Duong Minh Tan, Chairman of Tuy Phuoc Dong Commune People's Committee.

Mr. Le Hong Ha, Head of the Gia Lai Province Market Management Department, said that after the storm, there were some reports of increased generator prices and fluctuations in construction material prices, mainly traditional tiles and roof tiles. The market management force met and signed nearly 400 commitments with businesses, requiring them to strictly implement regulations on listing and selling at the right price, and not to arbitrarily increase prices. Regarding the reports from the people, the unit has verified them, but most of them do not have specific addresses, so it is difficult to detect, handle and deter.

Mr. Ha Quang Ngoc, a construction contractor based in Hiep Binh ward (HCMC), said that in recent days, the price of construction materials has been "jumping" continuously. The price of construction sand in the fourth quarter increased by more than 40% per cubic meter, construction stone also increased from more than 400,000 VND/cubic meter compared to the beginning of the year, to 750,000 VND/cubic meter. There were times when sand for filling and construction was also scarce, and even if you wanted to buy it, you couldn't, causing the construction to be delayed...

Recently, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong requested the Department of Construction to coordinate with relevant units to strictly implement the directions of the Government and the Ministry of Construction on controlling supply and demand, stabilizing construction material prices, promptly announcing labor prices, machine shift prices, and construction price indexes.

DUC TRUNG

NGOC OAI

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/sau-bao-bien-la-bao-gia-vat-lieu-xay-dung-post823801.html