In November, construction significantly mitigated the slump, civil engineering works maintained the year-on-year volume after months of decline
In November 2020, the decline in construction output slowed down to single digits, which is the sector's second-best result since last March, when the construction began to be affected by a new coronavirus pandemic.
Construction output in Slovakia in November 2020 was lower by 9 %, year-on-year, the pace of decline was the slowest in the last eight months and the volume of construction output reached the highest value of EUR 534,5 million. After seasonal adjustments, construction output was higher by 7 % than in October 2020. The decline in domestic output mitigated markedly, it was lower by 10,7 % year-on-year, which is the slightest decline after 2019 performances, since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, i.e. from March 2020.
Compared to October, the pace of decline of both components of domestic construction output decreased. The volume of work on new construction, including renewals and enhancements, was down by 7,4 % year-on-year in November and in repairs and maintenance by 18,6 %. The October drop in both components exceeded 20 %. Production on the domestic market accounted for 93 % of total construction output, of which new construction represented almost three quarters.
In terms of output specification, the volume of construction work (buildings) decreased by 15,9 % year-on-year, which was the slightest decrease in the last four months. Construction work on buildings accounted for almost two-thirds of the domestic output. The rest consisted of civil engineering, the development of which was extremely favorable in November. After seven months of decline, output in the segment, which includes, among other things, the construction of motorways, remained at the level of the previous year, the volume of work was higher by 0,1 % year-on-year.
Compared to November 2019, production realized by Slovak construction companies abroad increased by 22,4 %. Of the total volume of construction output, work abroad accounted for 7 %.
In total, construction output over the first eleven months of 2020 reached EUR 4,7 billion and compared to the corresponding period of 2019 it was lower by 12,6 %. Construction work of domestic construction companies decreased by 13,8 % year-on-year, their activity abroad increased, compared to the corresponding period last year, it was higher by 7 %. In the structure of domestic output, decisive new construction, including renewals and enhancements, decreased by 13,6 %, year-on-year, repairs and maintenance decreased by 15,9 %.