Singapore's manufacturing output dipped 2.1%

That's excluding biomedical output.

According to a release by the Department of Statistics, on a year-on-year basis, manufacturing output increased 2.1% in May 2013. 

Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output fell 2.4%. On a three-month moving average basis, manufacturing output increased 0.7% in May 2013, compared to a year ago.

On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output increased 1.2% in May 2013. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output increased 1.0%.

Performance by cluster

Output of the biomedical manufacturing cluster grew 22.8% in May 2013 on a year-on-year basis. The pharmaceuticals segment expanded 25.2%, supported by higher production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, while the medical technology segment increased 10.7%.

On a year-to-date basis, output of the biomedical manufacturing cluster increased 7.1%, compared to the same period a year ago.

Output of the electronics cluster rose 4.3% in May 2013, compared to the same period a year ago. The other electronics modules & components segment grew 55.6%, on the back of high regional demand for electronics components.

Output of the computer peripherals and semiconductors segments also expanded, increasing 12.5% and 11.8%, respectively. Cumulatively, output of the electronics cluster contracted 4.8% from January to May this year, compared to the same period last year.

The general manufacturing cluster’s output grew 2.2% in May 2013, compared to a year ago. The miscellaneous industries segment grew 9.7%, supported by higher output in construction related products such as articles of concrete, cement & plaster, and metal doors, windows, grilles & gratings. However, this was partly offset by declines in the food, beverages & tobacco (-0.4%) and printing (-10.2%) segments. On a year-to-date basis, output of the general manufacturing cluster rose 2.0%.

The chemicals cluster’s output declined 1.9% year-on-year in May 2013, with all segments recording lower output. The petroleum segment contracted 4.2%, mainly due to plant shutdowns for maintenance, and the specialties segment saw lower output in food chemicals & additives. Output of the chemicals cluster in the first five months of 2013 fell 1.2% on a year-on-year basis.

Output of the precision engineering cluster declined 6.2% year-on-year in May 2013. The machinery & systems segment contracted 3.8% with lower production of electric generators and semiconductor related equipment.

Output of the precision modules & components segment fell 8.7% with lower output in metal stamping work and dies, moulds, jigs & fixtures. Cumulatively, output of the precision engineering cluster shrank 9.1% year-on-year in the first five months of this year.

Output of the transport engineering cluster contracted 13.2% year-on-year in May 2013. The marine & offshore engineering segment declined 11.9% as a result of lower contributions from rig building and ship building & conversion activities.

The aerospace segment fell 21.0% due to lower demand for repairs and maintenance jobs from the US and Europe. Output of the transport engineering cluster in the first five months of 2013 declined 8.8%, compared to the same period last year.