
Argentine construction sector still on shaky ground due to price rises

Argentina’s construction sector remains on shaky ground as costs continue to rise, while firms are still complaining about delayed payments.
While nationwide numbers are only available for September, in the Greater Buenos Aires area, construction inflation reached 77.6% in the last 12 months to October, according to figures from statistics bureau Indec.
The situation is similar in Córdoba province, where 12-month inflation to October reached 74.6%, according to the provincial statistics and census office.
In both cases, labor costs increased faster than prices of supplies.
The cost crisis has led to a situation in which bids for public works have surpassed the reference budgets by large margins.
One project affected was stage IV of section 2 of the widening of the Salado River in Buenos Aires province, which is part of the US$6.5bn Argentina Grande program that seeks to push strategic infrastructure works.
The three offers received were more than double the reference price of 12.7bn pesos (US$76mn).
Next year, Argentina is also planning to tender a 140bn-peso bridge between Corrientes and Chaco provinces.
Business associations have blamed “oligopolies” and payment delays for the cost increases.
BUSINESS SENTIMENT
An Indec survey of the construction sector, carried out in September, showed that firms focused on public works are slightly more optimistic than those focused on private sector contracts.
Some 22.7% of firms that concentrate on public works said that they expected activity to increase during the fourth quarter of 2022, versus 14.3% of firms who mainly carry out private works.
In both cases, over half of the respondents said they expect activity to remain unchanged.
Nearly a third of public works-focused companies (32.8%) said that policies aimed at stabilizing prices would help drive the sector better than any other alternative.
Price instability appeared to be a bigger concern for firms focused on private sector projects (25.3%) than for those working in the public sector (19.1%), though for both the biggest issue cited was delays in the payment chain (28.3% and 25.8%, respectively).
Subscribe to the most trusted business intelligence platform in Latin America. Let us show you our solutions for Suppliers, Contractors, Operators, Government, Legal, Financial and Insurance.
News in: Infrastructure (Argentina)

Argentina makes U-turn, won’t merge transport, public works ministries
Authorities now believe the move would slow the execution of key infrastructure programs.

Argentina's cabinet reshuffle to bring changes to infra sector
The public works and transport ministries are expected to merge, which would give more political weight to the government's construction plans.
Subscribe to Latin America’s most trusted business intelligence platform.
Other projects in: Infrastructure (Argentina)
Get critical information about thousands of Infrastructure projects in Latin America: what stages they're in, capex, related companies, contacts and more.
- Project: Jujuy - La Quiaca railway rehabilitation
- Current stage:
- Updated:
5 days ago
- Project: Metrotranvía de Mendoza - Third and Fourth Stage
- Current stage:
- Updated:
2 weeks ago
- Project: NEW RN 73 LA RIOJA CHILECITO RN. 0073 THE DRAWERS ANGUINATE
- Current stage:
- Updated:
4 weeks ago
- Project: Renovation of the Belgrano Sur Railway Phase II (Branch M): Tapiales – Marinos del Crucero General Belgrano
- Current stage:
- Updated:
4 weeks ago
- Project: PGYD TERRITORIAL CENTER POSADAS MISIONES POSADAS
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 month ago
- Project: RP N 3 BETWEEN RP N 17 AND SUPERMAN F. RUSSO ZONE 2 FRONT D MAS II
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 month ago
- Project: 129 STREET BETWEEN 31 AND 45 – 45 STREET BETWEEN 129 AND RPN 11 ZONE 7 FRONT C MAS II
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 month ago
- Project: CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTEGRAL TERRITORIAL CENTER FOR GENDER AND DIVERSITY POLICIES IN GENERAL ROCA PROVINCE OF RÍO NEGRO GENERAL ROCA
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 month ago
- Project: GRASS AND WEED CUTTING SERVICE OF SECTION III RN 12 DE KM. 87150 A KM. 132550 PROVINCE OF CORRIENTES
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 month ago
- Project: SANDS BETWEEN AV. HIPÓLITO YRIGOYEN AND GRAL. JUAN MARTà N OF PUEYRREDÓN – MORON ZONE 3 FRONT B MORE II
- Current stage:
- Updated:
1 month ago
Other companies in: Infrastructure (Argentina)
Get critical information about thousands of Infrastructure companies in Latin America: their projects, contacts, shareholders, related news and more.
- Company: Durmientes de Hormigón Argentinos S.A.  (DHASA)
-
Durmientes de Hormigón Argentinos S.A. (DHASA) is an Argentine firm established in 2012 that won a concession to replace the railroad ties of the Buenos Aires-Mar del Plata and ...
- Company: ECA S.A.  (ECA)
- Company: José J. Chediack SAICA  (Chediack)
-
José J. Chediack S.A.I.C.A. (Chediack) is an Argentine construction and concessions company founded in 1947. Owned by Argentine businessman Juan Chediack, the company has office...
- Company: CPC Ingeniería e Infraestructura S.A.  (CPC)
-
CPC S.A. is an Argentine company founded in 1977 under the name Comercial del Plata Construcciones S.A. It is engaged in the development of engineering and infrastructure projec...
- Company: Mijovi S.R.L  (Mijovi)
- Company: Panedile Argentina S.A.I.C.F. e I.  (Panedile)
-
Panedile Argentina S.A. (Panedile) is an engineering and construction company focused on the provision of large-scale projects in the following areas: hydroelectric and hydrauli...
- Company: UCSA
-
UCSA is an Argentine engineering firm that is involved in civil works, railways, gas pipelines, the electricity sector, highways and sanitation networks. The company participate...
- Company: UTE Vialmani S.A. - Hidraco S.A. - Alquimaq S.A.  (Consorcio UTE Vialmani S.A. - Hidraco S.A. - Alquimaq S.A.)
-
Consorcio UTE Vialmani SA - Hidraco SA - Alquimaq SA is a company formed by Vialmani SA, Hidraco SA, and Alquimaq SA for the execution of the Ruta Nacional 8 Pilar-Pergamino pro...
- Company: Alquimaq S.A.  (Alquimaq)
-
The description contained in this profile was taken directly from an official source and has not been edited or modified by BNamericas researchers, but may have been automatical...