Reliance on Russian commodities irks German construction industry

The German construction industry is expressing concern about rising prices on the commodity markets due to the war in Ukraine, reported dpa.

"The Russian attack on Ukraine is having a much greater impact on the German construction industry than had been expected," Felix Pakleppa, managing director of the Central Association of the German Construction Industry (ZDB), told dpa.

For example, he said the prices for steel, the bitumen needed in road construction and wood had shot up.

Pakleppa compared the situation to Germany's energy sector, which relies on Russian fossil fuels.

"We are finding, like the energy supply, that we have to become more independent of products from Russia."

This includes, for example, thinking more about the domestic mining of raw materials.

"We have a lot in our country, but it is reluctantly mined," Pakleppa criticized. "Which district administrator feels like approving a gypsum or sand and gravel pit in his area? We have to talk more about this."

There is also an urgent need for a new discussion on free trade zones among democratic countries, he said.

"We need large free trade zones so that we are less vulnerable and susceptible to conflicts with Russia - and China - in the future."

In addition, the reuse of building materials, not only for climate protection reasons but also to save costs, is a major issue that will increase significantly in importance, he said.