In the first quarter, there was more repair and reconstruction work done
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The production value of Estonian construction enterprises amounted to 631 million euros, of which building construction accounted for 487 million euros and civil engineering for 144 million euros. Compared to the first quarter of 2019, the volume of building construction increased by 5% and the volume of civil engineering works (roads, bridges, port facilities, pipelines, communication and electricity lines, sports fields, etc.) increased by nearly a fifth.
According to Merike Sinisaar, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, changes in the construction sector happen with some delay. The data of the first quarter show that, because the impact of the emergency situation 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. Civil engineering works also contributed to bigger construction volumes,” said Sinisaar.
The construction volume of Estonian construction enterprises in foreign countries decreased by nearly a fifth year on year. There was a fall in both building construction and civil engineering works. Construction in foreign countries accounted for 7% of the total construction volume; the share a year ago was 9%.
According to the Register of Construction Works, 1,874 dwellings were completed, which is an increase of nearly a tenth compared to the same period a year ago. The majority of completed dwellings were in Tallinn, the rural municipalities in the vicinity of Tallinn and in Tartu county. Building permits were granted for the construction of 2,021 dwellings, which is up by a fourth compared to the first quarter of 2019. The most popular type of building was a block of flats.
Completed non-residential buildings numbered 366, with a useful floor area of 277,000 m2 – 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.
Statistics Estonia collects and analyses data for producing quarterly economic indicators of enterprises. The statistical activity is commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications in order to determine how the Estonian economy is performing.