KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 12): Building costs rose in December 2025, driven by higher cement and sand prices, data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) showed. The unit price index of cement increased by between 1.2% and 3.2% from the previous month, DOSM said in its Special Release for Building and Structural Works, December 2025. By contrast, the unit price index of steel slipped slightly, declining by between 0.1% and 1.0% on a monthly basis. On a year-on-year basis, the unit price index of steel fell by between 3.2% and 7.1% in December 2025 compared with a year earlier, covering most areas nationwide. Cement prices, however, rose on an annual basis, with the unit price index increasing by between 2.0% and 6.1% across all areas.

Source: The Edge Markets January 12, 2026 05:17 UTC