In January, construction output dropped due to a weaker performance of foreign builders, although domestic construction activity increased

In January 2026, construction output dropped by 2%, mainly due to lower performance of Slovak construction companies operating abroad. The performance of domestic construction companies  improved due to a higher volume of road and railway construction, but this strong growth was partly offset by weaker building construction than a year earlier.

Construction output¹⁾ reached a value of EUR 444.7 million in January 2026 showing a slight year-on-year decrease by 2%²⁾. The first monthly performance of builders this year was the highest January value from 2023. A slight year-on-year increase in domestic construction production of 1% was encouraging, continuing its upward trend for the third consecutive time despite the winter season. However, in month-to-month comparison the volume of construction output decreased by 5.4%³⁾.

Work carried out on domestic new construction⁴⁾, which significantly influences the overall output of builders, increased in January by 2.3% compared with January 2025. However, repairs and maintenance output dropped year-on-year by as much as 5%, thus reducing the growth of domestic construction production. Their share within builders’ domestic market production has long fluctuated around one quarter; there was an exception only in December 2023, when it rose to almost one third. While other works had a positive impact on overall production, their contribution in terms of value and share remained relatively minor.

Construction of buildings, a key component of domestic production based on the main focus of construction work, decreased year-on-year by 3.3%. Civil engineering work in January 2026 they increased by 15.8% compared with January 2025 positively influencing the domestic performance of construction companies, of which they make up approximately one quarter.

The performance of Slovak construction companies abroad represented 12% of total construction production and in January was almost one fifth lower year on year.