JEDDAH, 27 March 2004 — Construction costs will go up by 35 percent because of a rise in iron and steel prices, Muhammad Al-Anqari, chairman of the contractors committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, told Arab News. Contractors have been forced to increase the charges as a result of a price hike for building materials such as steel, cement and wood, he said. Companies have already started signing new construction contracts with increased rates.