Volume change in construction output in the member states of the European Union, March 2025
Released: 21 May 2025
The volume of construction output in the EU was 0.1% higher month-on-month in March 2025, and 0.7% lower than in March 2024. Compared to the latter, according to calendar adjusted data1, production volume grew in more than half of the member states, in the two most decisive states, France and Germany, however, a setback took place, as did in Hungary (-2.5%). Among the other Visegrad countries Poland also registered a decline (-1.1%) while expansion took place in Czechia (+12%) and Slovakia (+5.9%).
The performance of construction in Hungary – according to raw data – lagged behind the last year’s March level by 3.4%2, and surpassed the previous month’s one, based on seasonally and working day adjusted data, by 0.1%. Overall, production volume in the first three months of the year was 5.7% lower year-on-year.
Compared to the one year earlier level production in both main construction groups decreased in March, the construction of buildings by 0.1%, civil engineering by 8.9%. (Elements of transport infrastructure and complex industrial establishments are part of the latter.) Among the divisions of construction, in the largest weight representing one: specialised constructions, a 20.1% decline occurred, in the construction of buildings and in civil engineering works, however, output increased by 27.8% and 1.8%. The volume of new contracts concluded lessened by 27.3%. The volume of the end-of-March stock of contracts was 3.8% higher year-on-year, within it the volume of contracts for construction of buildings were 14.7% lower, for civil engineering were 20.7% higher.
Based on the Euroconstruct estimate construction performance may increase annually in Hungary by 2.8% in 2025, by 4.3% in 2026. Besides, a larger growth is expected in the Visegrad countries than in the most of the older member states of the European Union; in France, Germany and Italy, however, a decline is expected in 2025, too.
Table 1
Change in construction output volume, March 2025*
Country
Change compared with the
same period of the previous yeara), %
previous monthb), %
European Union average
–0.7
0.1
Euro area
–1.1
0.1
Austria
7.4
5.9
Belgium
–6.6
–0.9
Bulgaria
8.8
1.8
Czechia
12.0
3.5
Denmark
4.2
1.3
Finland
4.9
0.0
France
–3.5
–1.0
Germany
–2.9
2.1
Hungary
–2.5
0.1
Italy
4.1
–0.4
Netherlands
–2.2
–1.1
Poland
–1.1
–3.7
Portugal
1.1
–4.3
Romania
6.1
4.6
Slovakia
5.9
–2.8
Slovenia
–11.6
–4.0
Spain
–6.0
–2.1
Sweden
2.2
1.0
a) Working day adjusted data.
b) Seasonally and working day adjusted data.
* Data of Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta were not available.
Source: Euro indicators. Download date: 20 May 2025
Figure 1
Figure 2
Footnotes
Released: 21 May 2025
The volume of construction output in the EU was 0.1% higher month-on-month in March 2025, and 0.7% lower than in March 2024. Compared to the latter, according to calendar adjusted data1, production volume grew in more than half of the member states, in the two most decisive states, France and Germany, however, a setback took place, as did in Hungary (-2.5%). Among the other Visegrad countries Poland also registered a decline (-1.1%) while expansion took place in Czechia (+12%) and Slovakia (+5.9%).
The performance of construction in Hungary – according to raw data – lagged behind the last year’s March level by 3.4%2, and surpassed the previous month’s one, based on seasonally and working day adjusted data, by 0.1%. Overall, production volume in the first three months of the year was 5.7% lower year-on-year.
Compared to the one year earlier level production in both main construction groups decreased in March, the construction of buildings by 0.1%, civil engineering by 8.9%. (Elements of transport infrastructure and complex industrial establishments are part of the latter.) Among the divisions of construction, in the largest weight representing one: specialised constructions, a 20.1% decline occurred, in the construction of buildings and in civil engineering works, however, output increased by 27.8% and 1.8%. The volume of new contracts concluded lessened by 27.3%. The volume of the end-of-March stock of contracts was 3.8% higher year-on-year, within it the volume of contracts for construction of buildings were 14.7% lower, for civil engineering were 20.7% higher.
Based on the Euroconstruct estimate construction performance may increase annually in Hungary by 2.8% in 2025, by 4.3% in 2026. Besides, a larger growth is expected in the Visegrad countries than in the most of the older member states of the European Union; in France, Germany and Italy, however, a decline is expected in 2025, too.
Change in construction output volume, March 2025*
| Country | Change compared with the | |
|---|---|---|
| same period of the previous yeara), % | previous monthb), % | |
| European Union average | –0.7 | 0.1 |
| Euro area | –1.1 | 0.1 |
| Austria | 7.4 | 5.9 |
| Belgium | –6.6 | –0.9 |
| Bulgaria | 8.8 | 1.8 |
| Czechia | 12.0 | 3.5 |
| Denmark | 4.2 | 1.3 |
| Finland | 4.9 | 0.0 |
| France | –3.5 | –1.0 |
| Germany | –2.9 | 2.1 |
| Hungary | –2.5 | 0.1 |
| Italy | 4.1 | –0.4 |
| Netherlands | –2.2 | –1.1 |
| Poland | –1.1 | –3.7 |
| Portugal | 1.1 | –4.3 |
| Romania | 6.1 | 4.6 |
| Slovakia | 5.9 | –2.8 |
| Slovenia | –11.6 | –4.0 |
| Spain | –6.0 | –2.1 |
| Sweden | 2.2 | 1.0 |
b) Seasonally and working day adjusted data.
* Data of Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta were not available.
Source: Euro indicators. Download date: 20 May 2025