Beyond the Pump: Petroleum Crisis Triggers 30% Spike in Plumbing Costs

The petroleum crisis hits the building sector, with plastic plumbing products set to rise 30% by May 1. Experts warn of project delays as global supply chains tighten.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 15, 2026, 5:40 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Construction Projects at Risk

The ripple effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are now impacting the petrochemical feedstocks required for PVC and other essential building materials.

Adam Jackson, General Manager of family-owned manufacturer Allproof Industries, warned that the soaring costs of petroleum-based resin could halt marginal projects. "My concern is that all these types of economic impacts... have an impact on the cost of building and ultimately slow down some of the projects that may have gone ahead," Jackson told The Detail.

Projects currently vulnerable include:

Major housing subdivisions

Apartment complexes and hotels