Construction activity, public works and materials exports are moving in different ways across markets. Malaysia’s surveyed construction work rose in the first quarter of 2026, led by private-sector activity, while civil engineering made up most public-sector work. In Great Britain, public-sector new work increased in 2024 even as private-sector new work slipped. UK construction-material exports grew in 2025, but imports remained substantially higher. These figures describe distinct places, periods and measures—not one global trend.
Construction activity is rising, but the drivers differ by market
Malaysia’s Department of Statistics reported RM46.5 billion in construction work done in Q1 2026, an 8.5% increase from the same quarter a year earlier. The survey’s fastest-growing reported subsectors were special-trade activities, up 24.6%, and non-residential buildings, up 12.7%. Those growth rates indicate where activity accelerated; they do not mean either subsector accounted for the largest share of all work. Department of Statistics Malaysia, Quarterly Construction Statistics, First Quarter 2026.
The Malaysian figures measure work done captured by the Quarterly Construction Survey, not every construction-related activity in the country. It covers CIDB Malaysia-registered main contractors with projects worth at least RM500,000 and excludes construction related to oil and gas exploration. DOSM’s survey coverage.
Private and public work tell different stories in Malaysia
Private-sector projects contributed the larger share of Malaysian construction work in Q1 2026, while public work was more concentrated in civil engineering. The distinction between share and growth matters: a segment can grow quickly without contributing the largest amount of work.
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| Malaysia, Q1 2026 | Work done | Share of total | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private sector | RM30.5 billion | 65.6% | +13.2% |
| Public sector | RM16.0 billion | 34.4% | +0.5% |
Within public-sector construction work, civil engineering accounted for RM11.3 billion, or 70.8%. Across all Malaysian construction work—not just public projects—civil engineering represented 34.2%. Public infrastructure was therefore a substantial part of the activity mix, but the data do not support calling it the main driver of overall growth in that quarter: private-sector work was both larger and faster-growing. DOSM’s activity and project-owner breakdown.
Great Britain’s public-sector new work grew in 2024
For Great Britain, the Office for National Statistics reported construction new work of £140,684 million in 2024, up 1.4% in current prices. Public-sector new work rose 6.7%, while private-sector new work fell 0.7%. Because these values are not adjusted for price changes, the current-price increase should not be read as a 1.4% rise in construction volume. ONS reports volume separately as the measure adjusted for price changes. Office for National Statistics, Construction statistics, Great Britain: 2024.
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Orders offer a forward-looking signal, not a count of work already completed. Great Britain’s new construction orders rose 5.6% to £71,707 million in 2024. Among the largest listed increases were private commercial orders (+18.8%), other public non-housing orders (+18.3%) and private infrastructure orders (+15.4%). New housing and private industrial orders declined. ONS describes its order series, sourced from Barbour ABI, as an indicator of current confidence and future industry health. ONS construction orders statistics.
UK construction-material exports rose, while imports remained higher
The Department for Business and Trade reported £8,860 million in UK construction-material exports in 2025, up £315 million (3.7%) from 2024. Imports were £22,586 million, down £314 million (1.4%), leaving a trade deficit of £13,727 million. The deficit narrowed by £629 million (4.4%) from 2024, but the UK remained a net importer of construction materials on this measure. These are nominal trade values; export growth alone does not show that exports exceed imports or that they are driving construction output. Department for Business and Trade, Construction building materials: commentary May 2026.
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In Q1 2026, exports were £2,191 million and imports £5,569 million. Compared with the previous quarter, exports fell 0.4% and imports rose 3.1%; the trade deficit widened 5.5% to £3,378 million. The annual and quarterly figures use different comparison periods, so they should not be treated as contradictory: exports increased over 2025 as a whole but dipped quarter on quarter at the start of 2026. DBT’s construction-material trade commentary.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Positive headline figures do not mean every segment is strong
Business-conditions intelligence cited in the DBT commentary offers a more cautious UK picture: the Bank of England’s Agents’ Summary of Business Conditions, published 24 April 2026, described infrastructure spending as flat and below expectations, commercial construction as weak, and residential construction as reduced amid weak demand and elevated costs. This is reported business intelligence, not a measured output statistic, so it provides context rather than a quantified alternative to the construction or trade series. DBT commentary on reported business conditions.
Quick Recap
How to read these figures without conflating them
- Work done or new work: activity measures describe construction work; orders track contracts placed and are not completed output.
- Current prices or volume: current-price values include price changes. Use a volume measure to assess activity adjusted for those changes.
- Exports or trade balance: rising exports do not establish a net-export position. Compare exports with imports and the resulting balance.
- Share or growth rate: the largest contributor by value may not be the fastest-growing segment.
- Geography and period: Malaysia’s Q1 2026 construction survey, Great Britain’s 2024 new-work statistics and UK material-trade figures for 2025 and Q1 2026 cover different markets, dates and concepts. They are useful examples, not parts of a combined growth calculation.
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