Fiji’s construction industry recorded $254.0 million in the estimated value of work done, both in the private and general government sector, in 2008, according to the Fiji Islands Bureau of Statistics.

This indicates an increase of $23.7 million or 10.3 per cent when compared to the previous year, said the survey report.

The report revealed that the increase was mainly due to the carry forward of construction work from 2007.

Government statistician Timoci Bainimarama said new building and capital repairs recorded an increase of $24.2 million or 13.6 per cent.

He said current repairs and maintenance increased by $8.9 million (42.8 per cent) while civil engineering works decreased by $9.4 million (31.0 per cent).

The report further highlighted that work done for the private sector increased by $40.8 million (20.7 per cent), while work done for the general government decreased by $17.1 million (52.0 per cent).

However, the Bureau’s quarterly construction survey for the 2008 final quarter revealed the total estimated value of work put in place was $68.5 million.

That shows a decrease of $4.0 million (5.6 per cent) from the previous quarter but an increase of $3.6million (5.6 per cent) from the previous corresponding quarter.

The Bureau says, of the $68.5 million, $64.5 million accounted for work done in the private sector while $4.0 million was for work done for the government.

Bainimarama said the total estimated value of work put in place for new building and capital repairs during quarter four last year was $54.0 million - a 0.2 per cent decrease from the previous corresponding quarter, and a 9.3 per cent decrease from the previous quarter.

Of the $54.90 million, he said $4.0 million were for residential buildings and $50.0 million for non-residential buildings.

“New building and capital repairs accounted for 78.8 per cent of the total estimated value of work put in place, of which, 7.4 per cent were for residential buildings and 92.6 per cent were for non-residential buildings,” Bainimarama said in his report.

He said hotels, shopping and educational institutions contributed significantly towards non-residential buildings.
Current repairs and maintenance accounted for 13.3 per cent of the total estimated value of work put in place, of which 99.1 per cent were for work done in the private sector and 0.9 per cent was for work done for the general government.

“Of the total estimated value of $9.1 million, 13.7 per cent were for residential buildings and 86.3 per cent were for non-residential buildings,” Bainimarama said.

He said civil engineering work accounted for 7.9 per cent of the total estimated value of work put in place, of which 52.7 per cent were for work done in the private sector and 47.3 per cent for work done for the general government.

“Of the total estimated value of $5.4 million, 66.3 per cent were for earthmoving works, 26.2 per cent were for civil engineering works and 7.5 per cent were for other types of work done,” the survey report said.