Troostwijk Index 2026: slight price increase in construction and industry in the Netherlands
2025 was a year of stabilization in both the construction and industrial sectors in the Netherlands. Following years of volatility, prices for materials and raw materials leveled off. As a result, construction costs increased by about 3.5%, primarily due to higher wages and contractor rates, while most material prices remained stable.
Building on these stable trends, construction output grew only slightly, and the continued decline in building permits (housing –15%, non-residential –20%) remains a major concern. After years of contraction, industrial production in the Netherlands stabilized, though investments fell sharply due to economic pressure, U.S. import tariffs, and increased Chinese competition. Due to geopolitical tensions, energy markets stayed volatile.
| Index Results | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Office and industrial buildings | 138.2 | 141.2 |
| Residential buildings | 135.1 | 138.6 |
| Machinery and equipment | 131.5 | 134.5 |
(Q4 2019 = 100)
Outlook for 2026
- Wages: Expected increases of 3–5%, with 4% already agreed in Construction & Infrastructure.
- Materials: Slight increases for timber, sand, and non-ferrous metals; steel is largely stable; oil slightly declines.
- Construction output: Forecast growth of 1–3%, driven by housing, but limited by labor shortages, nitrogen rules, and grid congestion.
- Energy: Continued volatility; long-term rise in costs due to sustainability investments.
- Geopolitics: Ongoing tensions (Ukraine, Middle East, U.S. tariffs, Chinese overcapacity) continue to pressure prices for steel and chemicals.
About the Troostwijk Index
Troostwijk has developed annual indices for machinery and equipment, office and industrial buildings and residential buildings specifically for the Dutch insurance sector since 2002. Check the full content here: https://www.troostwijk.nl/nieuws/troostwijk-index-2026/
