Statistics: First quarter construction up 7 percent on year
According to information released by Statistics Estonia on Tuesday, in the first quarter of 2020, the total production of Estonian construction businesses in Estonia and abroad increased by 7 percent on year. The construction volume increased in Estonia, but decreased in foreign countries.
The production value of Estonian construction businesses amounted to €631 million, of which building construction accounted for €487 million and civil engineering for €144 million. Compared with the first quarter of 2019, the volume of building construction increased by 5 percent, while the volume of civil engineering works, including roads, bridges, port facilities, pipelines, communication and electricity lines and sports fields, increased by nearly one fifth.
According to Merike Sinisaar, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, changes in the construction sector happen with some delay. First quarter data demonstrates this, as the impact of the emergency situation, which lasted from mid-March through mid-May, is not yet evident.
"The domestic construction market was affected the most by an increase in the volume of building construction due to repair and reconstruction works," Sinisaar said. "Civil engineering works also contributed to bigger construction volumes."
The construction volume of Estonian construction businesses in foreign countries decreased by nearly one fifth on year, with falls seen in both building construction and civil engineering works. Construction in foreign countries accounted for 7 percent of total construction volumes, down from 9 percent in the first quarter of last year.
According to the register of construction works, 1,874 dwellings were completed, marking an increase of nearly one tenth compared to the same period a year ago. The majority of completed dwellings were located in Tallinn, municipalities in the Tallinn metro area as well as in Tartu County. Building permits were granted for the construction of 2,021 dwellings, which is up by one fourth compared with the first quarter of 2019. The most popular type of building was apartment buildings.
A total of 366 non-residential buildings were completed, with a total useful floor area of 277,000 square meters — these were primarily new industrial, office and education premises. Compared to the same quarter of 2019, both the useful floor area as well as the volume of completed non-residential buildings increased.
-
Download the ERR News app for Android and iOS now and never miss an update!
Editor: Aili Vahtla
