In September 2020, construction fell by almost a quarter year-on-year. Domestic construction output was lower by 23,3 % and the works of the Slovak construction enterprises carried out abroad decreased by 6,3 % compared to the corresponding period last year.

The decline in construction has deepened again. Construction output in September was lower by 22,1 % year-on-year, which represents an increase in the fall by almost three percentage points from 19,2 % in August. It was the worst result since October 2016. According to preliminary data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, the total volume of construction work reached the value of EUR 491 million.

The development of construction output was influenced by a decrease in new construction, including renewals and enhancements by 22,6 % and in repairs and maintenance by 30,3 %. In the structure of domestic production, new construction accounted for 72,5 %, the share of repair and maintenance work accounted for 23,4 %.

In terms of output specification, compared to September 2019, construction works (on buildings) decreased by 23,6 % and the amount of works on civil engineering decreased by 22,6 %.

Production realized abroad decreased by 6,3 % year-on-year, reaching EUR 40,2 million. Of the total volume of construction output, work abroad accounted for 8,2 % and for domestic construction 91,8 %.

In total, construction output over the first nine months of 2020 reached EUR 3,7 billion and compared to the corresponding period of 2019 it was lower by 11,9 %. Construction work of Slovak construction companies on the domestic market decreased by 12,9 % year-on-year, their activity abroad was higher by 3,9 % in the first nine months. In the structure of domestic production, new construction, including renewals and enhancements, accounted for 70,9 %, and the volume of work performed decreased by 13,2 %. Repairs and maintenance decreased by 14,5 % compared to the previous year and accounted for 25,4 %.

While construction output also showed a year-on-year increase by 2,7 % in the first quarter as a whole, it fell by 14,6 % in the second quarter and fell by as much as by 18,4 % in the third quarter.