JOHANNESBURG - Confidence in South Africa’s civil construction sector remains low, but the industry shows signs of stabilising.
The FNB/BER Civil Confidence Index stayed flat at 43 points in the second quarter of 2026.
Most firms remain dissatisfied, with over 55% reporting negative sentiment.
Sector activity slowed for a second consecutive quarter, according to the survey.
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Rising costs and global uncertainty, driven by the Middle East conflict, are to blame.
Even so, demand from energy, mining, and transport infrastructure helped prop up the sector.
Construction firms protected profits by passing higher costs to clients, and new project pipelines stayed relatively stable in Asia.