KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 2026, Steel and cement prices continued to put pressure on Malaysia’s construction sector, with cement prices rising by up to 7.4 per cent year-on-year in September, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
DOSM reported that steel price indices increased between 0.1 and 5.1 per cent, with Perak recording the highest rise at 5.1 per cent, followed by Johor at 4.8 per cent and Tawau at 3.8 per cent.
Cement prices increased between 0.6 and 7.4 per cent nationwide. Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan recorded the steepest annual increase, followed by Kuching at seven per cent and Miri at 6.6 per cent.
However, some materials recorded monthly declines. Steel prices fell by up to 1.6 per cent in selected areas, while sand prices dropped by 0.7 per cent in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan.
The average price of Ordinary Portland cement remained unchanged at RM25.80 per bag, while steel prices fell 2.4 per cent to RM3,431.90 per tonne in September.
Meanwhile, the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia reported that 81 per cent of surveyed developers faced higher business costs in the first half of 2026, with construction costs rising by an average of about 13 per cent.
The figures highlight continuing cost pressures on developers and contractors, potentially affecting project budgets, profit margins and property development costs.
-NST
