The cost of importing construction materials in the first half of the year has risen, compared with the same period in 2012.

A recent report from the Commerce Ministry showed that the importation of construction materials for the first half of the year totaled 451,000 tonnes, which was worth about US$226 million.

In the same period in 2012, the importation of goods for construction totaled 439,000 tonnes and was valued at about US$210 million. That shows an increase of more than seven per cent, compared to 2012.

Kong Putheara, the director of statistics at the department, said the cost of importing construction equipment into Cambodia climbed every year as Cambodia’s construction sector has continually grown.

He added that the growing population also played a key role in the sector.

“The population growth is linked closely with the growth of importing construction materials because once the population increases, the need for houses also follows suit,” he said.

“Once people have high incomes and the country’s economic and political situation is sustanable, the development projects also jump continuously. So the quantity of the need for imported goods will follow suit as well.”

According to a credible demographical survey in 2013 which covered the period from 2008 and projected to 2018, Cambodia now has a population of 14,676,591. A 2008 census showed Cambodia’s population was 13,395,682, so in only five years the populations has increased by 1,280,909.

At present many building projects are under way, with infrastructure such as roads, bridges, houses, commercial buildings and factories being constructed, and most of these need imported materials as well as local products including sand, stone, cement and bricks.

The construction materials which Cambodia imports into the market are mostly from China, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and some from Western countries.

At present in Cambodia, between 10,000 and 20,000 new homes are needed every year.