Construction labour cost and availability have become the primary concerns for real estate developers in Central Europe, according to a new survey by Deloitte. This shift sees it surpassing project financing, which has been the dominant issue in recent years.   

Bucharest's residential real estate sector is experiencing a significant downturn, with a notable drop in both permits and completions, raising concerns about the market's trajectory, according to an opinion by Dr. Sebastian Sipos-Gug - Ebuild srl, Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association (EECFA) Romania.

Croatia's construction sector is navigating a complex landscape of mixed economic and political signals, creating uncertainty about its future, according to an opinion by Michael Glazer (SEE Regional Advisors) and Tatjana Halapija (Nada Projekt), members of  the Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association (EECFA) in Croatia.

In January 5 years have passed since the European Parliament approved the Green Deal. The construction industry is accountable for 39% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The pressure to reduce emissions from clients, banks and legislation is only increasing, comments Jakub Škaloud, Project Manager and Head of the Building Differently team at VCES, one of the general contractors of Czech buildings.

The Hungarian construction industry experienced a mixed performance in 2024, with the final quarter showing a significant increase in the value of started projects, largely due to the Mohács Danube Bridge project.

In 2024, 13,295 new dwellings were built, 29% fewer than in the previous year. The number of dwellings built on the basis of building permits and simple declarations issued was 20,494, 4.7% fewer than in 2023.

Romania's construction industry maintained a high level of activity in 2024, despite a slight 4% decrease compared to the previous record year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS). However, compared to 2018, the volume of construction works was 78% higher during 2024.

Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, the proportion of imports on Ukrainian construction sites has remained relatively stable, with any monetary growth primarily attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates. The Ukrainian Real Estate Club has convened insights from representatives of various development companies to conduct a thorough analysis of the current share of imports, the evolution of procurement strategies, and the materials and components that predominantly remain imported.

The biggest growth in Eastern Europe is foreseen in Bulgaria going into 2025, while the rest of the countries are projected to make side moves in the coming years, according to a report by the Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association (EECFA).

We have previously published insights on the recovery efforts in Ukraine, and we would like to share some remarkable examples of how commercial projects damaged by missile attacks are being rebuilt. Shopping malls, office buildings, and logistics centres are often prime targets during hostilities, yet Ukrainian businesses are showcasing extraordinary resilience as evidenced in this summary prepared by the Ukrainian Real Estate Club for Property Forum.