Construction was expected to grow 13% in 2010 in Costa Rica

Projects are concentrated in Central Valley

Companies and individuals wishing to start or continue construction this year will have a better picture than the 2009.

Ricardo Castro, president of the Chamber of Construction Estimated that this year s ector grow by 13% and have achieved prices stable materials.

“This figure is still down from 2008 and 2007, but it is encouraging to see a reversal of the falling figure,” he added.

Castro reported that in the past two months have moved more permissions, but not enough to give statistically valuable yet.

As for prices, although they expect few movements, does not mean that there will be no change.

“However, the rate of construction sector of the Ministry of Economy grew 3.3% in December 2009 compared to December 2008, a percentage that is lower than inflation.

And in housing index decreased by 1.7% each.

Regarding the financing, Castro said they have seen improvements in some banks in some conditions have stabilized and interest rates. “The credit application last year fell like construction, between 35% and 40%.”

According College data Federation of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica, last year processed 5.58 million square meters in permits. This amount is 36% below the 2008 total.

Housing remains strong

The Housing construction has always been between 63% and 67% of total construction, a reality which the House considers to continue this year.

The 2009 for the housing sector was made of 2,863,465 square meters, compared to 445,176 from 1,042,805 in industry and commerce.

The area has never been the strongest in the country building is the Central Valley . Only in San Jose were processed permits for 1,540,801 meters square last year, compared with 380,598 in Guanacaste, a province that had the boom construction years ago.

The 2009 the cantons with the largest number of meters permits were processed in San Jose, Alajuela, Heredia, Santa Ana and Escazú.

All provinces, except lemon, reported a drop in built up areas (-24.39% San Jose, Alajuela -26.13% -32.69% Cartago, Heredia -35.25% -73.76% Guanacaste, Puntarenas and Limon -23.24% 3.25%) .