In the first quarter, construction volume fell by 7%
According to Statistics Estonia, in the first quarter of 2021, the total production value of Estonian construction enterprises in Estonia and abroad decreased by 7% year on year. Considering only the Estonian construction market, the decrease in construction volume was 6%.
The production value of Estonian construction enterprises totalled 593 million euros, whereas building construction accounted for 441 million euros and civil engineering for 152 million euros. Compared to the first quarter of 2020, the volume of building construction fell by a tenth and the volume of civil engineering works (roads, bridges, port facilities, pipelines, communication and electricity lines, sports fields, etc.) rose by 4%.
“The domestic construction market was affected the most by the decreased volume of building construction, primarily due to a fall in the volume of building repair and reconstruction works. At the same time, the increased volume of civil engineering was due to repair and reconstruction works,” explained Merike Sinisaar, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia.
The construction volume of Estonian construction enterprises in foreign countries decreased by 15% year on year. There was a fall in both building construction and civil engineering works. Construction in foreign countries accounted for 6% of the total construction volume – this share was 7% in the first quarter last year.
According to the Register of Construction Works, 1,701 dwellings were completed, which is almost the same as the year before. The majority of completed dwellings were in Tallinn, in the rural municipalities in the vicinity of Tallinn and in Tartu county.
There is a steady demand for new dwellings. Building permits were granted for the construction of 2,089 dwellings, which is 3% more than in the first quarter of 2020. The most popular type of residential building was still a block of flats.
The number of completed non-residential buildings was 302, with a useful floor area of 174,000 square metres – these were primarily new storage, transport and industrial premises. Compared to the first quarter of 2020, there was a decrease in both the useful floor area and the volume of completed non-residential buildings.
Statistics Estonia collects and analyses data to produce the quarterly economic indicators of enterprises. The statistical activity is commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications in order to understand how the Estonian economy is doing.
See also the construction section on our website.
More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.
For further information:
Kadri Kütt
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181