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Singapore’s manufacturing output up 12.6pc in February year-on-year
SINGAPORE (Xinhua) – Singapore’s manufacturing output increased 12.6 per cent year-on-year in February, said the country’s Economic Development Board (EDB) on Friday.
Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output grew 17.1 per cent, said EDB in the press release. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output decreased 3.7 per cent compared to the previous month. Excluding biomedical manufacturing, output fell 3.4 per cent.
As for performance by cluster, the output of electronics cluster increased 39.8 per cent year-on-year. EDB said this was mainly attributed to the semiconductors segment, posting a robust growth of 63.6 per cent. The other electronic modules and components as well as infocomms and consumer electronics segments also grew 16.5 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively.
EDB said the precision engineering cluster expanded 26.2 per cent, with both segments registering output growth. The machinery and systems segment posted strong growth of 33.2 per cent, on the back of higher export demand for semiconductor related equipment. The precision modules and components segment grew 16.4 per cent with higher output of dies, molds, tools, jigs and fixture, optical instruments and metal precision components.
The output of general manufacturing industries cluster grew 3.3 per cent. EDB said the food, beverages and tobacco segment grew 26.6 per cent, due in part to fewer production days in February last year because of Chinese New Year; but growth was moderated by declines in the miscellaneous industries and printing segments.
The chemicals cluster expanded 1.9 per cent year-on-year in February, according to the press release. Petrochemicals and petroleum segments grew 5.3 per cent and 3.2 per cent respectively, and specialties segment output grew 4.1 per cent with higher production of additives for mineral oil. On the other hand, the other chemicals segment registered lower output in fragrances.
While the output of biomedical manufacturing cluster fell 2.6 per cent compared to the same period a year ago, said EDB. The medical technology segment grew 18.6 per cent on the back of higher export demand for medical devices but this was offset by decline in the pharmaceuticals segment.
Output of the transport engineering cluster fell 9.6 per cent. The land transport and aerospace segments expanded but this was offset by contraction in the marine and offshore engineering segment, which remained weak with a lower level of rig-building activity and lacklustre demand for oilfield and gasfield equipment amidst the low oil price environment.
Source: http://borneobulletin.com.bn/singapores-manufacturing-output-12-6pc-february-year-year/