Construction volume surpassed the pre-pandemic level
According to Statistics Estonia, in the third quarter of 2021, the total production value of Estonian construction enterprises in Estonia and abroad increased by 15% year on year. Considering only the Estonian construction market, the growth in construction volume was 16%.
The production value of Estonian construction enterprises totalled 1,047 million euros. Building construction accounted for 713 million euros and civil engineering for 334 million euros. Compared to the third quarter of 2020, the volume of building construction increased by 23% and the volume of civil engineering works (roads, bridges, port facilities, pipelines, communication and electricity lines, sports fields, etc.) stayed at the same level.
According to Merike Sinisaar, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, the growth on the construction market continues to be influenced by the low reference base of last year as well as by the bigger rise in the prices of materials over the last few years. “Compared to the pre-pandemic time, the situation on the construction market is already slightly better: based on the last three quarters, the market is in a better state than in 2019,” said Sinisaar.
The domestic construction market was affected the most by the higher volume of building construction. There was a rise in both new building construction and building repair and reconstruction works. Civil engineering works also supported the growth in construction volume.
The construction volume of Estonian construction enterprises in foreign countries decreased by around a tenth compared to the third quarter of 2020. Construction in foreign countries accounted for 4% of the total construction volume in the third quarter of 2021 – this share was 5% the year before.
According to the Register of Construction Works, 1,737 dwellings were completed, which is approximately a tenth less than the year before. The majority of completed dwellings were in Tallinn, in the rural municipalities in the vicinity of Tallinn and in Tartu county.
Building permits were granted for the construction of 2,521 dwellings, which signifies a decrease by a fourth year on year. The most popular type of residential building was still a block of flats.
The number of completed non-residential buildings was 266, with a useful floor area of 171,900 square metres – these were primarily new storage, office and educational spaces. Compared to the second quarter of 2020, there was a decrease in the useful floor area of completed non-residential buildings while their construction volume increased.
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