Hardware stores: Enough supply for high demand

A construction boom, led by Best Sunshine International, Ltd.’s $550-million Grand Mariana Casino Hotel and Resort development, has created a strong demand for construction materials and supplies but local hardware stores assured they’re up to the challenge in meeting this demand. (Dennis B. Chan)

Four of the five biggest construction suppliers on the island are ready to supply the current high demand brought by a number of construction developments taking place right now. The CNMI, particularly Saipan, is experiencing a construction boom buoyed by an increase in tourist arrivals.

Transamerica Corp. (Saipan), Guangdong Hardware, Win Win Way Corp., and Construction Materials Supply assured that their stocks are enough to supply the demand be it in large or small time construction projects. Conwood Products, Inc. declined to comment.

Construction materials will also be needed to repair and renovate houses destroyed by Typhoon Soudelor last year. The Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts is coordinating the repair projects with the help of U.S. volunteer groups.

Transamerica owner Steven Lim said they increased their supplies to make up for orders from their customers. “Right now, we’ve increased our inventory to accommodate the rise of construction activity on the island.”

“Though, currently we are not yet making our own concrete blocks. But we do bring in wood products from overseas,” added Lim in an email to the Saipan Tribune.

Transamerica supplies building and construction materials like cement, doors, electrical wires, lumber, masonry, paint, plyform, plywood, rebars, roofing, tiles, windows, and plumbing fixtures and fittings.

Guangdong manager Justin Xiang, in a telephone interview yesterday, said their operations are back to normal after experiencing a temporary slowdown of orders from their customers and other construction builders. He said the slowdown was because of the CW1 cap issue.

“Some of the companies, our clients, that were affected by the CW1 cap had to extend their projects. Some stopped their construction projects, while some took a longer time since some of their workers are CWs,” Xiang said.

“Our sales were temporarily affected especially with some of the middle-sized projects waited for some of their CW workers to come back to Saipan. Everything is back to normal now.”

Xiang added that based on their current inventory of stocks, Guangdong is ready to answer the demand. “The demand right now is high but we have enough on our stock to supply the need of our customers. Be it in big or small construction projects.”

Win Win Way administrator Hu Go Kan, in another telephone interview yesterday, said they don’t have any problems with their materials since they have been producing their own.

The Hong Kong-based construction company has invested on a batching plant, which is used to manufacture materials for construction projects, and a warehouse on Saipan.

He said the CW1 cap also affected them. “For our part, we do our own materials with some also being shipped from China. Construction in some of our projects also slowed down with the CW1 issue.”

We’re going back to normal, especially with the Honest Profit [International] hotel in San Antonio as our biggest construction project right now.”

CMS general manager Joe Guzman, who was a bit hesitant to give any information, said they also have enough supplies despite being a week behind in providing materials for their customers.

“We do supply the island and we make up for the high demand. We’re a bit behind but we are capable and can provide for the needs of our customers.”