Building costs tick up

Building material prices in Fiji experienced a minor uptick in the June 2026 quarter, with the Building Material Price Index climbing by 0.6 percent to 137.4. This slight escalation reflects an overall increase in construction input costs.

The primary driver behind this rise was a significant 3.5 percent jump in the cost of electrical products. Items such as main switches, LED tube lights, power cables, and wiring experienced higher prices. Additionally, the cost of paint and glass increased by 1.2 percent, with timber primer, undercoat, finishing coat, and industrial silicone becoming more expensive.

Prices for iron and steel also rose by 0.9 percent, attributed to increased costs for aluminium insulation, mild steel, nails, and roofing screws. Plumbing ware saw a 0.5 percent increase, influenced by higher prices for precast concrete sinks and waste pipes. Cement and related materials also recorded a 0.5 percent rise, mainly due to an increase in cement prices.

In contrast, wood and related materials showed no change in price during the quarter. Similarly, the prices for door and window frames remained steady. Floor and wall tiles were the sole category to register a decline, with prices dropping by 1.9 percent, primarily for mosaic and ceramic tiles. Overall, the construction sector experienced modest price increases across most categories, with tiles being the exception.