Singapore manufacturing shrank 0.2% in September

All clusters contracted except for transport engineering and precision engineering clusters.

Singapore’s manufacturing output contracted by 0.2% YoY in September after months of moderated growth, the Economic Development Board (EDB) revealed. It fell 4.9% on a seasonally adjusted MoM basis.

Amongst its clusters, transport engineering saw the biggest growth of 39.4% YoY. Its marine & offshore engineering segment expanded 71.4% due to a low base in September 2017 paired with higher level of work done in offshore projects. The aerospace segment grew 23.6% amidst higher volume of engine repair and maintenance work from commercial airlines.

On the other hand, the land transport segment output fell 17.6%.

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For precision engineering, output inched up 4.1% YoY with precision modules & components segment leading the expansion by 13.8% through higher production in optical instruments. Meanwhile, the machinery & systems segment fell 2.1% amidst lower production of process control equipment and refrigeration systems.

Output in general manufacturing dropped 2.7% YoY with miscellaneous industries and printing segments contracting 6.9% and 13.9% Meanwhile, food, beverages & tobacco segment rose 2.6% amidst higher production of infant milk products.

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Output for chemicals slipped 7.1% YoY as the petrochemicals and petroleum segments contracted 14.3% and 15.7% respectively over maintenance shutdowns. Other chemicals segment crashed 16.7% with lower output in fragrances.

Despite this, the specialties segment expanded 7.8% on account of higher production of industrial gases and mineral oil additives.

In biomedical manufacturing, output slid 9.7% YoY as medical technology and pharmaceuticals segments fell 5.8% and 11.1% respectively.