KUCHING: Cement prices in Kuching and Miri rose 7.2 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in July 2026, among the highest increases recorded nationwide, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
In a statement yesterday, DOSM said the increase in both Sarawak cities was just below Perak, which recorded the country’s highest increase of 7.5 per cent.
Overall, the unit price index of cement rose by between 0.9 per cent and 7.5 per cent y-o-y across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
Building costs in Sarawak also edged higher during the month, with the Building Material Cost Index (BCI) with steel bars increasing by between 0.2 per cent and 1.3 per cent month-on-month (m-o-m) across all building categories.
This contrasted with Sabah, where the BCI with steel bars declined by between 0.2 per cent and 0.5 per cent m-o-m, while Peninsular Malaysia recorded increases ranging from 0.1 per cent to 1.4 per cent.
Nationwide, DOSM said the unit price index of sand increased by between 0.1 per cent and 14.9 per cent m-o-m in July.
The highest increase was recorded in Terengganu and Kelantan at 14.9 per cent, followed by Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, at 4.1 per cent, and Penang, Kedah and Perlis at 2.8 per cent.
The unit price index of steel also edged up by between 0.6 per cent and 0.9 per cent m-o-m, led by Perak at 0.9 per cent.
On a y-o-y basis, steel prices increased by between 0.5 per cent and 8.4 per cent across most areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
Perak recorded the highest increase at 8.4 per cent, followed by Johor at 6.3 per cent and Pahang at 4.8 per cent.
Meanwhile, the average price of steel, comprising mild steel round bars and Mycon 60 high-tensile deformed bars, slipped 0.2 per cent m-o-m to RM3,499.50 per metric tonne (MT) from RM3,507.10 per MT in June.
The average price of Ordinary Portland cement remained unchanged at RM25.70 per 50-kilogramme (kg) bag.
