steel

KUALA LUMPUR — The unit price index of steel recorded a slight decrease in July 2025, ranging from -0.2 per cent to -3.5 per cent as compared to the previous month, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the highest decrease was observed in Kuching (-3.5 per cent), followed by Sibu (-1.5 per cent) and Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan (-0.8 per cent).

“However, a slight increase was recorded in several areas, including Perak (1.2 per cent), followed by Terengganu and Kelantan (0.3 per cent),” he said in a statement.

For the unit price index of steel and metal sections, Mohd Uzir said it posted a slight increase in July 2025, with a month-on-month change of between 0.2 per cent to 0.5 per cent.

In contrast, the unit price index of cement remained unchanged compared to the previous month.

He added that the unit price index for sand also remained unchanged in most parts of Peninsular Malaysia, except for a slight increase of 0.1 per cent in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan.

“The unit price index for this material recorded an increase in Sabah and Sarawak, ranging from 0.1 per cent to 0.5 per cent, with the highest increase in Kota Kinabalu (0.5 per cent), followed by Tawau and Kuching (0.2 per cent), respectively,” he said.

Meanwhile, the average price per unit of steel — comprising mild steel round bars and Mycon 60 high tensile deformed bars — rose slightly by 0.2 per cent to RM3,488.65 per tonne, from RM3,480.10 in June 2025.

The average price of ordinary Portland cement remained unchanged at RM23.80 per 50 kg bag.

DOSM also reported that the Building Material Cost Index (BCI) with steel bars, by building categories and area in Peninsular Malaysia, increased between 0.1 per cent and 3.5 per cent in July 2025. The increase was recorded for all building categories except in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan. — BERNAMA