Manufacturing output up 13% in April

This is largely attributed to the pharmaceuticals segment which grew 141.3%.

Singapore’s manufacturing output increased 13% YoY in April and 10% YoY in Q1, according to data from the Economic Development Board (EDB). On a monthly basis, the manufacturing output rose 3.6% in the same month as compared to March.

The biomedical manufacturing segment’s output jumped 100.5% YoY in April compared to the same period in 2019. This is largely attributed to the pharmaceuticals segment which skyrocketed 141.3%, on the back of higher production of active pharmaceutical ingredients and biological products. On the other hand, output of the medical technology segment fell 2.9%.

Output in precision engineering expanded 5.9% over the same period, driven by the rise of 10.3% of the machinery and systems segment due to higher production of semiconductor equipment. However, the precision modules and component segment dipped 5.6% as the pandemic dampened demand and disrupted operations locally and in key export markets.

Further, the electronics cluster output rose 0.8% YoY in April with the semiconductor segment rising 3.6%, whilst the rest of the electronic segments contracted. Transport engineering output also decreased 24.1% YoY, with the marine and offshore engineering segment slipping 14.6%. Aerospace and land transport segments also contracted 28.1% and 33.9%, respectively.

General manufacturing output contracted 20.2% YoY in April as export demand softened and production scaled down due to the circuit breaker measures. The food, beverage and tobacco segment fell 14.2%, whilst printing and miscellaneous industries segments contracted 26.1% and 27.1%, respectively.

Lastly, chemical outputs fell 6.8% YoY over the same period due to the petroleum and petrochemicals segments which declined 5.9% and 11.7%, respectively. This is attributable to plant maintenance shutdowns and a slow demand in key export markets.