The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reported a mixed performance in building material prices for July 2025, with steel prices seeing further declines while cement costs remained stable.
The unit price index of steel fell between 0.2% and 3.5% month-on-month, with the sharpest drop recorded in Kuching (-3.5%), followed by Sibu (-1.5%) and the combined region of Selangor, W.P. Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan (-0.8%). Perak bucked the trend with a 1.2% rise, while Terengganu and Kelantan posted a modest 0.3% increase.
In contrast, the unit price index for steel and metal sections inched up between 0.2% and 0.5%, while cement prices remained unchanged across the country.
Sand prices also held steady in most of Peninsular Malaysia, except for a 0.1% rise in Selangor, W.P. Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan. Sabah and Sarawak recorded increases ranging from 0.1% to 0.5%, with the highest jump in Kota Kinabalu (+0.5%), followed by Tawau and Kuching (+0.2% each).
On an annual basis, steel prices saw sharper declines, falling between 4.9% and 12.9% in most regions. Cement, however, recorded annual gains of between 0.1% and 3.7%, led by Johor (+3.7%), Tawau (+3.6%) and Sibu (+2.3%).
For average prices, Ordinary Portland cement held steady at RM23.80 per 50kg bag, while the average price per metric tonne of steel — covering mild steel round bars and Mycon 60 high tensile deformed bars — rose 0.2% to RM3,488.65 from RM3,480.10 in June.
DOSM noted that the price movements reflect both local demand conditions and broader market factors influencing the construction materials sector.
