KUALA LUMPUR: The Building Material Cost Index (BCI), without steel bars and with steel bars, for all building categories in Malaysia, increased between 0.2% and 22% in August 2022 compared to a year ago, says the Statistics Department.
The department said for the same period, the increase in the 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 the 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, Melaka 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 Statistics Department said in the “Building Cost Index, Malaysia August 2022” report yesterday.
It noted the BCI without steel bars increased between 5.5% and 12.4% for all building categories in Peninsular Malaysia.
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 12.9% and 11.4% respectively in August 2022.
Monthly comparison of construction materials and selected areas showed a decrease in the unit price index of iron in all areas.
