Singapore factory output up 4.2% in August on back of robust biomedical manufacturing

The electronics cluster is the second-best performer.

Singapore’s manufacturing output grew 4.2% year-on-year in August, reflecting robust biomedical manufacturing and electronics output.

According to the Economic Development Board, the biomedical manufacturing cluster’s output increased 9.7% yoy in August, driven by the a 20.6% expansion in the medical technology. and a 7.5% growth in active pharmaceutical ingredients and biologics products.

Here’s more from the EDB:

Output of the electronics cluster increased 7.2% year-on-year in August 2014. Cumulatively, output of the electronics cluster grew 2.2% from January to August this year, compared to the same period last year.

The chemicals cluster’s output rose 2.3% on a year-on-year basis in August 2014, with most segments recording output growth. Output of the chemicals cluster in the first eight months of 2014 increased 7.9%, compared to the same period in 2013.

Output of the precision engineering cluster grew 1.9% year-on-year in August 2014. Cumulatively, output of the precision engineering cluster increased 3.6% for the first eight months of this year, compared to the same period last year.

The general manufacturing industries cluster’s output declined 0.2% in August 2014 on a year-on-year basis. On a year-to-date basis, output of the general manufacturing industries cluster decreased 0.4%, compared to the same period a year ago.

Output of the transport engineering cluster fell 0.8% year-on-year in August 2014. Output of the transport engineering cluster increased 4.3% in the first eight months of 2014, compared to the same period last year.