Non-residential property subsector up 4.9% to RM6.4b in 1H17

PETALING JAYA (Oct 27): The non-residential property subsector grew by 4.9% to RM6.4 billion in the first half of 2017 (1H17), according to the “Economic Report 2017/2018”.

This growth was due to the rebound in starts for shops (29.3%, compared with a 46.7% contraction in 1H16 and serviced apartments (14%, compared with a 35% contraction in 1H16).

“However, construction starts in the industrial and small office home office (SoHo) declined 9.7% and 16.1% respectively (1H16: -76.7% and -24.9%), mainly due to moderation in the O&G-related industries,” it said.

* Budget 2018 highlights
* Residential take-up rose in 1H2017
* Residential overhang growth almost doubles in 1H17
* Average home prices rose in 1H17
* Shop overhangs shot up 54.3% to 7,754 units in 1H17
* Purpose-built Office Rental Index continues uptrend in 2Q17
* Residential property loans grew to 8.8% of household debt as at July 2017
* Household debt repayment capacity remains strong as at end-July 2017
* Housing development expenditure likely more than halved in 2017
* Rail transport to drive connectivity

The report also noted that the planned supply of purpose-built offices (PBO) shrank by 6.1% to 972,995 sq m from 1,036,671 sq m a year ago, but construction starts for PBO remained at 277,776 sq m.