Singapore manufacturing output up 9.1% in April

Growth was led by the electronics segment that has been in the black for 26 months.

Singapore's industrial production (IP) in April jumped 9.1% over a year, higher than the revised figure for March at 6.1%, the Economic Development Board (EDB) revealed. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output grew 9.3%. 

According to an announcement, electronic output stayed in the expansionary path for the 26th consecutive month and jumped 11.3% YoY, thanks to record growth in the semiconductors (15.4%) and computer peripherals (7.6%) segments. The other segments registered output declines. 

Chemicals output also jumped 12.4% YoY thanks to all segments recording higher output led by the petrochemicals segment. Transport engineering output grew 8.3% YoY mainly thanks to the aerospace (22.2%) and land transport (10.2%) segments. However, the marine & offshore engineering segment contracted 5.8%, on account of lower levels of activities in shipbuilding & repairing. 

Production of biomedical manufacturing climbed by 8.2% YoY on the back of higher pharmaceuticals output (10.7%). Precision engineering output went up by 7.2% as the machinery & systems segment grew 7.7%, on account of the higher production of process control equipment, refrigerating systems, and semiconductor-related equipment.

The precision modules & components segment increased 6.3% with higher production of metal precision components that support the electronics industry. Moreover, production of other fabricated metal products such as those used in the oil and gas industry registered an increase.

Production in general manufacturing slightly grew by 3.3% as the miscellaneous industries and food, beverages & tobacco segments grew 7.8% and 3.3% respectively. The former recorded higher output in batteries and steel structural component whilst the latter registered higher output in beverage products.

The printing segment remained weak, with output declining 10%.