Residential infrastructure has reputation: Constructora Anáhuac

This year was not good, but at this time there is already a rebound and something that we highlight is that the projects that were planned or under development had to be reconfigured in response to the consequences of the pandemic.”

Gerardo Nevárez, director of anáhuac construction organization.

Good expectations for the development of private infrastructure. The director of Anáhuac Organization Construction, Gerardo Nevárez, considered that during the second half of this year residential works are showing better behavior, mainly in the north of the country, and that there is open competition to offer better services.

Until last June, the building subsector (which represents 40.4% of the total industry) was in negative signs, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).

“In 2021 we thought that we would recover some of what was lost in 2020 and the results gave us just enough to keep us going. This year was not good, but at this time there is already an upturn and something that we highlight is that the projects that were planned or under development had to be reconfigured in response to the consequences of the pandemic. For example, the offices were totally modified to have more open spaces and that stopped the execution”, he explained.

In an interview, the director recalled that the company, based in Monterrey and with a national presence, is celebrating 50 years of creation, which have been dedicated entirely to generating private work. One of the projects that is his letter of introduction is Saqqara Residences, in San Pedro, Monterrey, which was designed by the British Norman Foster (who did the project for the canceled new airport for Mexico City). They have already finished a first stage and are in a second.

—The adjustments that you have seen in the projects in recent months are also an opportunity for you?

Of course, but unfortunately that slowed us down because the projects went back into the design stages to see if the investors were in line to continue to be able to continue. In our case, we already have good expectations. The budget project area is 150% above the pre-pandemic period. Fortunately, the market is growing. What level of recovery are you at?

In 2019 we executed work for 850 million pesos and the monthly production that we register now already gives us enough to reach that level, but not the results (utility). We are still a little behind, but it is picking up in favor. It is clear that we are still affected by the health crisis and contracts are becoming more aggressive with a narrower profit margin.

—What is the impact of inflation?

Too. Our contracts in the private sector are at a fixed price and we have to ensure that there should be no increases on the fly. Each project must be budgeted with high precision.

How do you experience this recovery process in the second half of 2022?

In Nuevo León or Sonora we do see an upturn, but it is not the same in other states. In addition, the competition is growing and some projects have won us, so the challenge is to improve the service. Within the building sector, the construction of concrete works is a commodity. It is the same price of concrete and steel, for example.

alejandro.delarosa@eleconomista.mx