Eight in ten construction managers expect further price rises over the next 12 months

   Nearly 83% of managers in Romania's construction sector expect further price increases over the next 12 months, while more than 45% anticipate stagnation or even a decline in the volume of projects, amid pressures stemming from the cost of materials, energy and transport, according to a study conducted by IBC Focus."Romania's construction market is facing a major wave of uncertainty and sustained financial pressure. In this context, customer behaviour is changing dramatically, with caution becoming the prevailing approach on construction sites. More than eight out of ten market participants (83%) are convinced that prices in the construction sector will continue to rise over the coming year," the study's authors said.The survey, carried out by IBC Focus through its Victa platform, found that 44.64% of managers expect construction costs to increase by between 5% and 10%. At the same time, 27.68% believe price rises will exceed 10%, a trend directly influenced by the global energy crisis.By contrast, just over 10% of respondents expect prices to remain stable, while fewer than 7% anticipate a decline in market prices."This trend is closely linked to the global energy crisis. A total of 63.72% of industry leaders believe that developments in oil prices will have a major impact on the construction sector in the coming period, while 35.40% expect the effect to be moderate. These findings show that 99% of market participants are closely monitoring macroeconomic energy indicators with concern," the study states.According to the report, the effects were already strongly felt during the first half of 2026, when companies across the industry reported rising costs on several fronts.The largest increases over the past six months were recorded in construction materials (38.05%), followed by energy bills (34.51%) and transport and logistics costs (18.58%). Pressure caused by labour shortages (6.19%) and financing costs (2.65%) further contributed to the industry's current challenges.Rising costs have fundamentally changed the way clients and developers respond to market offers. The most visible consequence is increased caution: 66.07% of managers said investors are choosing to postpone decisions to launch new projects, the report notes. At the same time, heightened price sensitivity is prompting clients to request more competing bids in order to optimise their budgets.According to the authors, companies are therefore being forced to rethink their sales strategies at a time when simply submitting a quotation no longer guarantees securing a contract."We are witnessing a paradigm shift on construction sites across Romania. Clients no longer accept superficially prepared budget estimates and carefully assess every option available on the market in order to reduce financial risk. In this climate of uncertainty, a company's ability to access accurate data on competitors and construction projects has become the key factor in ensuring business survival," said Andrei Spataru, Chief Executive Officer of IBC Focus, as quoted in the press release.The research also shows that this need to adapt is reflected in broader market expectations. More than 45% of specialists foresee a period of stagnation or even a decline in project volumes, while 30% say they are unable to make any forecast because of the lack of predictability.Only 24% of companies remain optimistic and expect market growth in the coming period, according to the survey, which covered 118 construction industry professionals.Despite delays and postponed investment decisions, monitoring data show that new construction projects continue to emerge. During the first six months of 2026, the IBC Focus team recorded and updated information on more than 28,000 construction projects, the study says."The investment map reveals significant regional disparities and highlights the areas where competition is most intense. Timis County ranks first nationally, with 2,413 monitored projects. Bucharest comes second, with 1,515 construction sites and investment projects recorded in the capital. Other major areas of activity include Cluj and Bihor counties, each with 1,336 projects, as well as Constanta County, which adds a further 1,301 projects to the national map," the report notes.For suppliers of construction materials and contractors, the heavy concentration of projects in these regions represents significant business opportunities but also much fiercer competition for every individual contract. The findings indicate that optimising costs through advanced monitoring and analytical solutions, such as those integrated into the Victa platform, provides sales teams with a way to win new contracts without dangerously reducing profit margins.IBC Focus monitors Romania's construction sites and construction project market.