Some of Brazil´s biggest construction companies are already taking advantage of the country´s preparations for the 2014 World Cup, with the majority of the lead contractors for stadium projects now decided.
Just this week multi-sectoral giant Odebrecht, ranked the biggest construction group in Brazil, according to a recent study by Deloitte, consolidated its involvement in the Cup by winning yet another contract, as part of a consortium with OAS, for the new stadium and surrounds project in Salvador, worth up to R$1.6 billion overall. The latest contract means Odebrecht now has Cup specific projects worth R$2.769 billion, having previously won contracts for the stadia in Recife and Rio de Janeiro.
For the latter, involving the major renovation of the famed Maracanã, Odebrecht is teaming up with fellow infrastructure heavyweight Andrade Gutierrez and smaller player Delta Constructions, however there should be plenty to share around considering the project is the Cup´s most expensive so far at R$705.6 million, or up to R$880 million depending on possible alterations.
For its part Andrade Gutierrez, which is Brazil´s third biggest construction group, has already won R$1.9 billion worth of Cup projects, including a joint arrangement with Via Engineering for Brasilia´s National Stadium, the second most expensive project at R$696 million, and the Amazon Arena project in Manaus, worth R$499.5 million.
Six of the nine projects for the publicly-owned 2014 Cup stadia have already appointed lead contractors while those for Fortaleza and Belo Horizonte are due to be finalised in the coming weeks. The Natal project has recently hit some legal issues and it remains to be seen when a contractor will be appointed.
The Cup-related works have contributed to a stellar performance by Brazil´s construction sector over the past year, with the country´s top 100 companies recording revenues of R$ 54.4 billion in 2009, up 15.3% on the previous year in spite of the global financial crisis.