Construction Confidence Index rises for 2Q 2012

The 2Q 2012 results suggest that the recovery is gaining momentum with construction activity in particular picking up noticeably. Despite this, there is still reason to believe that this recovery remains fragile, as a number of constraints remain, which could thwart the pace of the overall recovery going forward.

An important feature of the recovery thus far has been the consistent rise in construction activity, and during 2Q 2012 activity accelerated more notably than in previous quarters. This activity stemmed from a number of sources:

• Capital expenditure (capex) from provincial governments remains robust. During the 2011/12 financial year, (ended 31 March 2012) provincial capex was 21.7% higher year-on year. This momentum likely continued with a number of projects focused on the healthcare sector and water and water waste management being initiated.
  
• In contrast, municipalities continue to struggle. Only 41% of the total municipal capex budget had been spent during the first 9 months of the financial year (until March 2012). However, some work could have flowed from municipalities, as they push to spend more in the last quarter.
  
• Public corporations saw an increase in civil construction activity with new projects from the TCTA and ACSA in particular coming on line.
  
• However, construction activity from the private sector likely contributed less, with mining production slowing and some mining firms holding back on expansion plans.

Because of the uptick in activity, firms have been able to further raise tendering prices providing additional relief to their balance sheets.

Rising employment adds to cost

Construction employment levels increased modestly in 2Q 2012 and overall profitability also improved. However, the increase in profitability was lower than the higher prices and increased activity would have suggested. This is indicative of the type of rising cost pressures civil contractors are faced with. Part of the cost increases can be explained by the improved employment levels during 2Q 2012.

In addition to rising costs, respondents remained dissatisfied with the volume of new construction work available and they therefore still rate it as a significant constraint. In addition, the lack of skilled labour is becoming even more of a concern and has increasingly been mentioned by the industry.

Regarding the construction survey's methodology, the confidence index can vary between a maximum of 100 (which indicates that all respondents were satisfied with prevailing business conditions) and a minimum of zero (indicating that all respondents were unsatisfied). A level of 50 indicates that the respondents are equally divided between those satisfied and dissatisfied. The current reading of 38, therefore, indicates that the majority of respondents remained dissatisfied with prevailing business conditions.

The recovery in the civil construction sector seems to have gained traction during 2Q 2012 with activity levels increasing.

However, rising costs, insufficient demand for new work and the shortage of skilled labour could hamper the pace of the recovery going forward. In other words, the recovery remains hesitant, potentially tempering confidence in future quarters.

Graphs

Source: BER Stellenbosch