The prices of building materials in Azerbaijan's construction market can be reduced by establishing quarries in Karabakh, which has unique opportunities for this purpose, Ramiz Isayev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Construction Manufacturers Association, said in a statement to Report.
“Currently, large-scale construction and renovation projects are underway in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. Sawn stone is a crucial element in these projects across Karabakh and East Zangazur. The association, considering the demand, conducts expertise and monitoring of mineral deposits in the region and organizes auctions. At present, existing sawn stone deposits in Aghdam, Khojaly, Kalbajar, Fuzuli, Gubadli, and Lachin districts have already been put into operation,” Isayev said.
The association chairman believes that artificial price increases in Azerbaijan's building materials market are not possible. Investigations conducted in the construction market to date have not encountered such instances. "The possibility of this happening is currently unlikely, as the building materials market is formed by both domestic production and imports, and there are no state-imposed restrictions on the import of these materials," he explained.
Isayev noted that forecasting the prices of building materials for the near and medium-term is currently impossible, as it depends on several factors and circumstances: “These factors can be divided into external and internal groups, with external factors including geopolitical influences, interstate relations, conflicts, natural disasters, and unexpected foreign impacts. Internal factors include the current construction boom in the country, especially in the liberated territories, the import-export situation of the economy, and the current and future state of local production.”
Isayev suggested that if prices continue to rise, the government could allocate loans to this sector and try to improve the market situation, benefiting entrepreneurs, citizens, and banks alike: “While many products in the country are sold on credit, only a few chain stores do this for building materials, so the government could provide support in this area.”