KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Building material costs in Malaysia climbed in July, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) said in a statement on Monday.

This photo taken on Jan. 29, 2024 shows a night view of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (File photo: Xinhua)

The unit price index of sand increased in July 2026, ranging from 0.1 percent to 14.9 percent nationwide compared to the previous month. The highest increase in the price index for sand was recorded in the states of Terengganu and Kelantan (14.9 percent), followed by Kota Kinabalu, capital of the northern Borneo state of Sabah (4.1 percent), and Penang, Kedah and Perlis (2.8 percent).

The unit price index of steel also edged up slightly in July 2026, ranging from 0.6 percent to 0.9 percent month-on-month, it said.

It also reported that the price index of cement registered a slight increase in July 2026, ranging from 0.2 percent to 0.8 percent month on month across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

The unit price index for steel recorded an increase ranging from 0.5 percent to 8.4 percent involving most areas in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, on a year-on-year basis, it said.

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 percent month on month.

The Building Material Cost Index 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.