KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 — The unit price index of sand increased in July 2026, ranging from 0.1 per cent to 14.9 per cent nationwide, compared to the previous month, said the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

In a statement today, the department said the highest increase in the price index for sand was recorded in Terengganu and Kelantan (14.9 per cent), followed by Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (4.1 per cent) and Penang, Kedah and Perlis (2.8 per cent), respectively. 

“The unit price index of steel also edged up slightly in July 2026, ranging from 0.6 per cent to 0.9 per cent month-on-month (m-o-m).

“The highest increase in the price index for the material was recorded in Perak (0.9 per cent), followed by Tawau, Sabah (0.7 per cent), and Sandakan, Sabah (0.6 per cent),” it said.

Additionally, DOSM reported that the price index of cement registered a slight increase in July 2026, ranging from 0.2 per cent to 0.8 per cent m-o-m across all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

The highest increase in the price index for the material was recorded in Perak (0.8 per cent), followed by Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan (0.3 per cent), respectively, and Penang, Kedah and Perlis (0.2 per cent), respectively.

On a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, it said the unit price index for steel recorded an increase ranging from 0.5 per cent to 8.4 per cent involving most areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

According to DOSM, the highest increase in the unit price index for steel was observed in Perak (8.4 per cent), followed by Johor (6.3 per cent) and Pahang (4.8 per cent).

“The unit price index for cement also recorded increases ranging from 0.9 per cent to 7.5 per cent in July 2026 compared with the same month of the previous year across all areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

“The highest increase was recorded in Perak (7.5 per cent), followed by Kuching and Miri, Sarawak (7.2 per cent), respectively,” said it.

Meanwhile, DOSM said the average price per unit of steel, consisting of mild steel round bars and Mycon 60 high-tensile deformed bars, saw a slight decrease of 0.2 per cent m-o-m, with an average price of RM3,499.50 per metric tonne (MT) compared to RM3,507.10 per MT in June 2026.

The average price of Ordinary Portland cement remained unchanged at an average price of RM25.70 per 50-kilogramme (kg) bag.

On the other hand, the Building Material Cost Index (BCI) with steel bars, by building category and region in Peninsular Malaysia for July 2026, rose by between 0.1per cent and 1.4 per cent m-o-m. 

“The BCI with steel bars in Sabah recorded a slight decline, ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 per cent m-o-m for all building categories in July 2026, while BCI with steel bars in Sarawak saw an increase of 0.2 to 1.3 per cent m-o-m for all categories of buildings,” it added. — Bernama