Manufacturing output rose 0.1% in April

Higher biomedical manufacturing and chemical output supported the sector recovery.

Singapore’s manufacturing output grew 0.1% YoY or 2.4% MoM in April, recovering from the 4.8% contraction in March, according to the Economic Development Board (EDB).

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The monthly growth was led by the biomedical manufacturing output, which rose 11.2% YoY. Pharmaceuticals output expanded 10.9% with higher production of biological products, whilst medical technology output rose 12% with sustained export demand.

Chemicals output also increased 1.9% YoY, as other chemicals and specialties segments grew 9.3% and 0.9%, respectively although this was offset by declines in the by the petrochemicals and petroleum refining output.

On the other hand, precision engineering had the largest decline as it dipped 10.4% YoY in April, no thanks to the machinery & systems segment that slipped 20.6% with lower output in industrial process control and semiconductor-related equipment. The precision modules & components segment increased by 11.6%.

Transport engineering output dipped 1.1% YoY in April as the land transport and marine & offshore engineering segments declined 12.8% and 18.7%, respectively. This was offset by the aerospace segment which grew 16.3%

General manufacturing output declined 1.1% YoY, attributed to the output decline of the printing and miscellaneous industries segments of 7.0% and 7.5%, respectively. On the other hand, the food, beverages & tobacco segment grew 5.2%.

Electronics output fell 0.6% YoY. The other electronic modules & components, infocomms & consumer electronics and semiconductor segments grew 12.5%, 1.3% and 0.3%, respectively, whilst the data storage and computer peripherals segments contracted.