Supply line safe from Tsunami impact.

With the exception of constrution materials shipped in dry-bulk barges, the supply of building products may not be affected by the rebuilding efforts in tsunami stricken countries, say industry experts.

Since most of the area devastated by the tsunami was not industrial or urban, steel or wood products may not be used in large amounts in the rebuilding efforts.

"Most of the areas hit were fishing villages and tourist areas. It didn't hit major industrial centers," said Philip Bibeau, executive director of Wood Products Manufactures' Association. "Prices may go up a little bit, but it's not going to drastically affect the global price of building materials."

In fact, wood products used in Asia are imported from China and within the Asian region, said Bibeau. "Their building materials have to standup up in a tropical climate."

In addition, buildings in the stricken area are built using cement type or earthen blocks, according to Gary Higbee, Steel Institute of New York. "It's really not clear yet how the rebuilding will affect steel, because the infrastructure and buildings in that part of the world aren't built using steel framing," said Higbee. "It's not to say they shouldn't use steel to rebuild.

"They are built using some rebar, but mostly concrete blocks."

The availability and cost of cement may be affected by the end of the first quarter, said Ed Sullivan, chief economist Portland Cement Organization. "We won't know if this is going to happen for another six weeks," said Sullivan. "Dry bulk carriers are used to carry food stuffs. It is possible some of these ships will be diverted to bring aid to tsunami stricken countries. This will tighten shipping availability, which is already strained, but we won't know until late in the first quarter or early in the second. The best way to see if this is going to happen is to watch freight rates."

Ken Simonson, chief economist, Associated General Contractors of America, added, "Materials for which imports make up a significant share of consumption, such as cement and steel, may be harder to obtain in early 2005, either because the products themselves are being shipped to Asia or because the ships that bring them to the U.S. are being used for relief deliveries."

One Florida based company is already ahead of the rebuilding game in disaster stricken areas, having been heavily utilized in Florida after last year's hurricanes. Aquentium, Inc is ready to provide redeployable disaster-relief housing structures.

Its re-deployable expandable structures are self-contained and fitted with holding tanks for fresh, grey and black water; a cistern; an air-to-water unit; and, a water purification system and solar energy complete the all-inclusive package.