The value of work done in the Construction sector amounted to RM38.9 billion in the second quarter of 2024, which accelerated further by 20.2 per cent following a 14.2 per cent increase in the previous quarter. The growth was spearheaded by the buoyant performance of the Civil engineering and Residential buildings sub-sectors, which posted substantial double-digit increases of 25.2 per cent and 19.7 per cent, respectively.

DOSM in its report said the growth of this sector was further bolstered by a robust 44.9 per cent (Q1 2024: 11.8%) expansion in the Special trade activities sub-sector. The sub-sector of Non-residential buildings also gained momentum, expanding by 7.2 per cent.

Out of RM38.9 billion of work done value recorded in the second quarter of 2024, a total of RM15.2 billion or 39.0 per cent was attributed to the Civil engineering sub-sector, primarily in the activity of Construction of roads and railways (RM7.5 billion) and utility projects (RM5.6 billion). Meanwhile, the value of work done for Non-residential buildings and Residential buildings accounted for RM10.6 billion (27.4%) and RM8.8 billion (22.6%), respectively. Additionally, the Special trade activities accounted for RM4.3 billion (11.0%), largely in the Electrical installation; and Plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation activities, both at RM1.1 billion.

The private sector remained the primary driver of growth in the Construction sector, contributing RM23.6 billion or 60.8 per cent of the total value. The private sector sustained its double-digit momentum with a 15.8 per cent growth (Q1 2024: 10.1%), propelled by strong performance in the Residential buildings (19.9%) and the Special trade activities (46.0%) sub-sectors. Likewise, the value of work done owned by the public sector registered a strong increase of 27.8 per cent (Q1 2024: 20.6%) to RM15.3 billion (share: 39.2%), which was primarily fuelled by the Civil engineering sub-sector at a 23.8 per cent growth.

Nearly 59.0 per cent of the work done value was concentrated in Selangor, Johor, Sarawak and Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan). The Construction value in Selangor amounted to RM8.7 billion or 22.4 per cent, contributed by the Civil engineering (RM3.0 billion), followed by Residential buildings (RM2.5 billion) and Non-residential buildings (RM2.3 billion) sub-sectors. Meanwhile, Johor ranked second with a value of RM5.4 billion or 13.8 per cent, primarily in Civil engineering (RM1.9 billion) and Non-residential buildings (RM1.8 billion) sub-sectors. In the meantime, the value of work done in Sarawak was RM4.5 billion (11.7%), while Wilayah Persekutuan recorded RM4.3 billion (11.2%).

Summarising the performance of the Construction work done for the first half of 2024, the sector posted a value of RM75.7 billion, reflecting a 17.2 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023 (Q1 2023 to Q2 2023: 8.7%). The better performance was underpinned by expansion across all sub-sectors largely by Civil engineering (25.0%); and Residential buildings (15.7%).