Kuala lumpur: The unit price index of sand experienced a significant rise across Malaysia in July 2026, with increases ranging from 0.1 percent to 14.9 percent compared to the previous month, as reported by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the most substantial hike in the sand price index was observed in Terengganu and Kelantan, both recording a 14.9 percent increase. Kota Kinabalu, Sabah followed with a 4.1 percent increase, while Penang, Kedah, and Perlis each saw a 2.8 percent rise.
In addition to sand, the unit price index of steel also saw a modest increase in July 2026, ranging from 0.6 percent to 0.9 percent month-on-month. The highest increase in the steel price index was recorded in Perak at 0.9 percent, followed by Tawau, Sabah at 0.7 percent, and Sandakan, Sabah at 0.6 percent.
The report further detailed that the price index of cement registered a slight increase in July 2026, with changes ranging from 0.2 percent to 0.8 percent month-on-month across all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak. Perak saw the highest increase at 0.8 percent, followed by Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan at 0.3 percent, and Penang, Kedah, and Perlis at 0.2 percent.
On a year-on-year basis, the steel price index increased by 0.5 percent to 8.4 percent across most regions in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak. Perak again recorded the highest increase at 8.4 percent, followed by Johor at 6.3 percent and Pahang at 4.8 percent.
The cement price index also recorded year-on-year increases ranging from 0.9 percent to 7.5 percent in July 2026. Perak led with a 7.5 percent increase, followed closely by Kuching and Miri in Sarawak at 7.2 percent each.
Meanwhile, DOSM noted a slight month-on-month decrease of 0.2 percent in the average price per unit of steel, which comprises mild steel round bars and Mycon 60 high-tensile deformed bars. The average price fell to RM3,499.50 per metric tonne from RM3,507.10 per metric tonne in June 2026. The average price of Ordinary Portland cement remained stable at RM25.70 per 50-kilogramme bag.
The Building Material Cost Index (BCI) with steel bars, by building category and region in Peninsular Malaysia for July 2026, rose by between 0.1 percent and 1.4 percent month-on-month. In contrast, the BCI with steel bars in Sabah recorded a slight decline, ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 percent month-on-month for all building categories, while Sarawak saw an increase of 0.2 to 1.3 percent month-on-month for all categories of buildings.