KUALA LUMPUR: The construction sector continued its steady expansion in the first quarter (1Q) of 2026, recording an 8.5 per cent year-on-year growth to RM46.5 billion, said the Statistics Department (DoSM).
DoSM said in a statement today that performance was mainly driven by continued expansion in the special trade activities and non-residential building sub-sectors, which posted double-digit growth of 24.6 per cent and 12.7 per cent, respectively.
The residential buildings sub-sector also registered a 6.1 per cent increase.
"Meanwhile, the civil engineering sub-sector remained positive with a 1.5 per cent marginal growth," DoSM said.
Of the RM46.5 billion work done for the quarter, RM15.9 billion, or 34.2 per cent, was contributed by the civil engineering sub-sector, driven by the construction of utility projects (RM8.3 billion) and roads and railways (RM6.1 billion).
Meanwhile, work done for non-residential building and residential building sub-sectors was RM13.9 billion and RM10.5 billion, or 29.9 per cent and 22.5 per cent, respectively.
The special trade activities sub-sector contributed RM6.2 billion (13.3 per cent), largely supported by site preparation (RM1.4 billion), while plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation and electrical installation activities were recorded at RM1.2 billion.
The private sector remained the main growth driver, with a 13.2 per cent increase propelled by special trade activities (28.8 per cent) and non-residential buildings (13.1 per cent) sub-sectors.
Private sector work amounted to RM30.5 billion, or 65.6 per cent, of the total value of construction work done versus the public sector’s RM16 billion, or 34.4 per cent.
Growth was fueled by special trade activities and non-residential building sub-sectors of RM1.7 billion and RM2.5 billion, or 15 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively.
More than half of the work done in the different states in 1Q 2026 was concentrated in Selangor, Johor and Wilayah Persekutuan, which includes Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.
The value of work done in Selangor was RM10.9 billion, or 23.4 per cent, with the non-residential building (RM4.1 billion) and civil engineering (RM2.6 billion) sub-sectors contributing the most.
Johor ranked second with RM9.5 billion, or 20.4 per cent, primarily supported by the non-residential building sub-sector (RM3.6 billion).
The value of work done in Wilayah Persekutuan was RM4.8 billion (10.3 per cent). - Bernama
