KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) said prices of cement, aggregates and steel increased month-on-month in June.
The unit price index of cement was up between 0.1 per cent and 2.1 per cent for almost all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
The unit price index of aggregates is up between 0.4 per cent and 0.6 per cent for almost all areas in June 2024 as compared to the previous month.
There was a slight increase in the unit price index of steel for several areas month-on-month, with decreases seen in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur,
Melaka & Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu and Kelantan.
An annual comparison for June 2023 and June 2024 showed that the unit price index of cement increased between 0.4 per cent to 4.7 per cent for all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
Unit price index of stell however fell between negative 0.1 per cent to negative 5.3 per cent in June 2024 as compared to the same month last year for almost all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
Chief Statistician Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin said that the average price of cement (ordinary Portland) recorded a marginal increase (0.3 per cent) with an average price of RM23.10 per 50 kg bag as compared with May 2024 (RM23.04 per 50 kg bag).
Meanwhile, the average price per unit of steel, consisting of mild steel round bars and Mycon 60 high tensile deformed bars remained unchanged as compared to May 2024 with an average price of RM3,730.49 per metric ton.
DOSM observed that the month-on-month building cost index (BCI) with steel bars for all building categories in June 2024 increased by between 0.1 per cent and 2.0 per cent in nearly all areas of Peninsular Malaysia.
"The highest increase was in Selangor, W.P. Kuala Lumpur, Melaka & Negeri Sembilan for Timber Piling category (2.0 per cent).
"However, there was a slight decrease between -0.1 per cent to negative -0.3 per cent for BCI with steel bars for several building categories in Johor and Terengganu & Kelantan," the statement said.