Continued assessment of sea sand and crackdown on price manipulation in construction materials

Continued assessment of sea sand and strict action against price manipulation in construction materials. The Prime Minister has repeatedly called for strengthening inspections, investigations, and strict handling of speculative, manipulative, and trade-fraud behaviors that destabilize the construction materials market. On March 31, the Prime Minister issued a plan to implement Directive 03/2026 of the Party Central Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership over the management and development of construction materials in the new phase. The overarching goal is to improve state management capacity, enhance the effectiveness of supply-demand governance, stabilize the construction materials market; raise the competitiveness of enterprises linked to the development of green materials, new materials, recycled materials; use resources efficiently, reduce emissions; promote technological innovation and digital transformation. To implement, the Prime Minister assigns agencies to complete statutory regulations, including sanctions strong enough against violations in the management, exploitation, processing, and use of minerals used as construction materials; clearly delineate the functions, duties, and powers of ministries, sectors, and localities. The agencies are tasked with studying sector planning for key materials such as cement, steel, tiles, and construction glass to improve governance efficiency and avoid overinvestment and excessive capacity. The plan also requires building a special mechanism to ensure fill material for key infrastructure projects; finalizing standards and technical regulations, focusing on green materials, recycled materials, and harmonizing economic-technical norms with practical realities and international practice. In addition, strengthen quality testing and monitoring; increase accountability of certification bodies and testing agencies; publicly disclose information on production capacity, consumption, inventory, and selling prices of construction materials. The Prime Minister requests strict handling of speculative, manipulative, and fraudulent trade practices that destabilize the market. Notably, the Prime Minister emphasizes resource savings, encouraging domestic materials with advantages, specific regional raw-material planning; manage imports of construction materials, especially domestically produced products; strengthen trade defense. Furthermore, ministries should continue researching and evaluating the use of sea sand, crushed sea sand, and other substitute materials in infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with standards and environmental protection.