Gulf government agencies are skipping distributors and calling factories directly, as regional shipping disruption puts critical building materials at risk.
The shift is aimed at keeping major construction and infrastructure projects on schedule.
"Agencies are contacting manufacturers directly," said Omar Al Busaidy, President of Future Pipe Industries, according to Arab News.
How factories kept running
Future Pipe runs a factory in Dammam with about 1,000 staff.
The company avoided shutdowns by drawing on inventories, spreading orders across more suppliers and sourcing raw materials locally.
Developers bought early
Saudi giga-project developers say advance purchasing has softened the blow.
SEVEN and Expo 2030 Riyadh both told Construction Week Saudi that buying materials ahead of time helped protect their timelines.
What to watch
Whether direct government buying becomes permanent, cutting traders out of the Kingdom's construction supply chain for good.
