THE Building Materials Cost Index (BCI), without steel bars and with steel bars, for all building categories in Malaysia, increased between 0.2 and 2% in August 2022 compared to a year ago, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said. 

The department said that for the same period, the increase in BCI for Peninsular Malaysia was between 5.5 and 18%, Sabah between 0.2 and 15.3%, and Sarawak between 5.4 and 22%.

It said an annual comparison for the period of August 2022 compared to a year ago showed an increase in BCI with steel bars for all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

“The category of buildings that recorded the highest increase in Peninsular Malaysia was for five-storey and above (reinforced concrete) building (for office) in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Negri Sembilan.

“The building category that recorded the highest increase in Sabah was reinforced concrete piling in Sandakan and single-storey steel frame in Miri, Sarawak,” the DOSM said in the Building Cost Index, Malaysia August 2022 report today. 

The DOSM said BCI without steel bars increased between 5.5 and 12.4% for all building categories in Peninsular Malaysia.

The building category that recorded the highest increase was five-storey and above (reinforced concrete) building (for offices) for Peninsular Malaysia. 

The building category that recorded the highest increase in Sabah was single-storey steel frame (towers only) in Sandakan. Meanwhile, the highest BCI without steel bars in Sarawak is a single-storey steel frame (building) in Miri.

Meanwhile, the unit price index of building materials increased between 5 and 13.3% for August 2022 compared to a year ago.

The price index per unit of steel, and steel and metal sections increased by 12.9% and 11.4% respectively in August 2022 compared to August 2021.

Monthly comparison of construction materials and selected areas showed a decrease in the unit price index of iron in all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

“In addition, the decrease in the unit price index for steel and metal sections ranged from 0.2-3.4% for almost all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. 

“However, other building materials in some areas remained unchanged such as aggregates for all areas in Peninsular Malaysia except in Johor, ready mix concrete for all areas in Sabah, and sand in Kuching and Miri, Sarawak,” the department said.

The average unit price of steel bars consisting of mild steel round bars and Mycon 60 high-tensile deformed bars increased 9.8% to record an average steel bar price of RM3,778.71 per tonne compared to the previous year (August 2021: RM3,440.91 per tonne).

“Meanwhile, cement recorded an increase of 11.2% in August 2022 at RM20.95 per 50kg compared to RM18.85 per 50kg in August 2021. However, the increase in prices for these two materials was slower than that of the previous month,” it said. – Bernama, September 8, 2022.